Whitecap Dakota Nation becomes self-governing

The Whitecap Dakota Nation made history as it announced itself as a self-governing treaty in Saskatchewan.

The treaty marks Whitecap officially moving out from under The Indian Act. It will move forward by implementing its own self-created laws into their Nation.

“We look forward to this change and continuing to move forward and to build our community for a bright future for our young people,” said Chief Darcy Bear.

“We’ve got to continue to build our Nation and continue to create a recognition of our ancestors, a recognition of our people here today as Aboriginal peoples of Canada.”

The treaty signifies Whitecap having control over its own Nation. It will be able to better dictate elements that make up a self-governing Nation such as land management, business development, education and language revitalization.

The change to self-governance brings many positive changes to Whitecap. Bear explained the Nation’s economy will greatly benefit from the change.

“We’ve got many projects that are on the books right now that we’re working on; we’ve got our architects working,” said Bear. “We’re creating another 400 jobs within the next two to three years.”

One of those projects includes a spa to be attached to the Dakota Dunes Casino’s hotel. Bear said that project alone will bring in more than 200 jobs.

He predicts another unnamed project in the works will bring in an additional 70 jobs. He also highlighted that Whitecap will be exploring its international relationships, as some American companies are looking to manufacture in the area.

He said the community employs both Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers, and is an inclusive Nation to all.

Bear said these projects are just the beginning, and is looking forward to Whitecap’s future as a self-governing Nation.

“When we have our reconciliation treaty and are given more resources to purchase more lands, we’ll look at other opportunities not just in Whitecap but in and around the Saskatoon area,” said Bear.

Whitecap has been on the path to self-governance for many decades. In 1979, the Nation already had its own election code. Negotiations with the federal government to become self-governing first began in 2012.

Bear said becoming self-governing is the first step to the Nation no longer being associated with the historic racism linked with The Indian Act.

“It pulls us out of the governance structure of the paternalistic Indian Act,” said Bear. “The Indian Act was never meant for us to be a part of even the economy. It was created to segregate us from society, keep us out of sight and out of mind and put us on little tracks of land called reservations.”

Whitecap will now have a much closer working relationship with the federal government as it begins its journey to creating its own laws and strengthening its Nation.