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Tsuut’ina officials say they’re baffled by Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s suggestion Wednesday the First Nation might be close to a deal with the province on the contentious Springbank dry dam.

At a Wednesday news conference detailing $13.5 million in flood mitigation projects for Calgary, Nenshi said talks between the two sides are bearing fruit — just weeks after the Tsuut’ina voiced opposition to the Elbow River diversion project near their land.

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“It’s my understanding conversations are actually going very well and that there really is a resolution in short sight — I certainly hope that’s the case,” Nenshi said.

He said the $263-million project, also rejected by some Springbank landowners, would benefit the Tsuut’ina.

“We think it is extremely useful for the Tsuut’ina Nation as well . . . and will continue to make that case and be helpful in any way we can,” said Nenshi.

But Tsuut’ina spokesman Kevin Littlelight said Nenshi’s statements on progress in addressing the First Nation’s concerns are baffling.