In 2010, the nation's governing body became known as Birch Narrows Dene Development Inc., operating with one chief and four councillors as before, under Band Custom Election policies with four year terms.

[3] Below is a list of chiefs of Birch Narrows Dene Nation (and its predecessors) since 1906:[3] On February 9, 2021, members of the First Nation issued a cease and desist order to James Sykes, CEO of Baselode Energy Corporation, a Toronto-based uranium company who had been conducting mineral exploration on unoccupied Crown land near the band's territory without their consent.

[8][9] Stewart said he was surprised at the response, that they had been communicating with Birch Narrows and other nearby communities, and that they had all the required permits.

However, he acknowledged the importance of Indigenous rights, and was confident his company would be able to regain the First Nation's trust.

[10] Wayne Semaganis, Chief of Little Pine First Nation, offered support to Birch Narrows against the lack of consultation by Baselode, claiming that the consultation rules set by the provincial government were unrealistic, and that First Nations needed to be treated like partners by industry and government.

The dispute with Baselode also led to calls from leaders of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations for the Government of Saskatchewan to bring its policies in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In a letter to the Prince Albert Daily Herald, Baselode said it is a “highly respected publicly traded exploration company” that has “built a reputation for going above and beyond in its interactions with indigenous people.” Saskatchewan Minister of Environment Warren Kaeding met with the Birch Narrows Dene Nation and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations to discuss the situation.