WELCOME - HAU KODAWelcome

Our Dakota people have a long and proud history and are recognized for many accomplishments including helping to establish the City of Saskatoon in 1882, which has now become the economic center of the province of Saskatchewan and our primary market. The Whitecap Dakota First Nation is pursuing its vision and creating an economically self-sustaining community on the Whitecap Reserve. Our development plans incorporate effective use of our resources while respecting the Dakota culture and protecting the environment.

We achieve success by developing partnerships and a spirit of alliance with our partners and the communities, businesses, and governments in our region.

We invite you to be part of our economic development plan and our efforts to strengthen our com-munity while building opportunities for many. We strive to develop meaningful business relationships and quality businesses so we can all achieve our goals.

Sincerely,

Chief Darcy Bear

Chief Darcy Bear

“As proud Dakota people we have always strived to be economically self

sustaining”

OVERVIEWThe Whitecap Story

The WDFN is located 26 kilometres south of Saskatoon. Formerly known as Moose Woods, it was established in 1889 by Order-in-Council. In August, 1882, Chief Whitecap counseled John Lake on the location for a new temperance colony that would become the City of Saskatoon.

The WDFN is part of the larger Dakota Nation, whose traditional governance structure was called the Seven Council Fires or Oceti Sakowin, and whose traditional lands extended into both Canada and the United States. The Dakota have a long standing relationship with the British Crown, dating back to wampum ceremonies in 1762.

Through accountable, transparent governance, economic development, stable land tenure management and partnerships, the WDFN has managed to attract over $100 million in capital investment in the community. In the coming years, development plans will contin-ue for outside investment in our community for tourism, business, and resort residential development.

From generation to generation, WDFN has continued the Spirit of Alliance. As the WDFN moves forward, it continues to build partnerships as it reinforces its values and traditions of the past. Today, their many partnerships with various organizations and local, provin-cial, and federal governments are a testament to the lasting legacy of this Spirit of Alliance.

GOVERNMENTStructure

The Whitecap Dakota First Nation is governed by an elected body consisting of the Chief and two councillors. These postions are elected through a vote by the Whitecap Dakota First Nation membership. Transparency is a core value of the WDFN government and all efforts are made to engage with both the membership and all partners and stakeholders in the decision making process. Government Adminstarion and services are provided through ded-icated departments including Economic Development, Lands, Public Works and Housing, Health, Education, Finance, and Self Government.

Self Government

Whitecap Dakota First Nation is in the process of negotiating Self-Government status with the Government of Canada.

The primary objective of the self-government initiative is to restore the balance of power to Whitecap Dakota First Nation. Self-governance allows communities to shape their social and economic well-being. Under self-government, bands develop and enforce their own laws regarding education, culture, finance, and lands. The Minister of Indian Affairs will no longer decide which laws could be passed, or which priorities are important. The community would become the ultimate authority over its own affairs in almost all of the sections of the Indian Act.

Our governance structure will be developed by our members through a community constitution and will be accountable to our own members.

Lands Whitecap Dakota First Nation has adopted the First Nation Land Manage-ment Ac under the Framework Agreement provided by the Federal Govern-mentt. This has allowed Whitecap to replace many provisions from the Indian Act with its own legislation and has given Whitecap government control over the management of Whitecaps land and resources. A third generation Land Code has been implemented in consultation with financial institutions and CMHC which further enhances the investment and security environment for lenders.

The WDFN developed a Land Use Plan that divided the reserve into Land Use Zones with each zone having its own development standards to maxi-mize land values. Ninety-nine (99) year commercial and 99 year residential leasing instruments with renewal options give the band the flexibility to meet the needs of investors.

Business development legislation including property taxation, business li-censing, environmental management along with a $12 million infrastructure investment was made to support commercial and residential development. This has helped to raise the market value of Whitecap Lands.

COMMUNITYDemographics

Total WDFN Population: 629 personsOn Reserve: 330 persons/Off Reserve: 299 persons Whitecap Community Population: 539 persons (includes all citizens that live in the community, WDFN members, other FN members and non-status residents.)Total Reserves/Settlements/Villages: 5,678 acres

Whitecap has become an attractive place to work and live for non WDFN members and mon first nations people. The proximity to Saskatoon, very low crime rate, beautiful landscape, services and attractions make for a community that can provide a healthy and blanced lifestyle.

Infrastructure

WDFN has made significant investments in infrastructure in order to provide a high quality of life for residents and a positive investment climate for our present and future partners. Notable investments include a cutting edge reverse osmosis water treatment system for both residential and commercial and access to high speed internet and fibre optic networks. A major expansion to the Wa-ter treatment and wastewater facilities is currently underway and will provide the necessary capacity for future development.

ECONOMYLabour Market

Through investments and partnerships Whitecap has created over 650 jobs on reserve land. As a result Whitecap enjoys an unemployment rate under 5% which is lower than the provincial average. The major employers operate in the service/hospitality industry they in-clude the Dakota Dunes Casino and the Dakota Dunes Golf Links. Local Government and the Public Works Department are also major sources of employment. Whitecap Dakota First Nation is located within 20km of the City of Saskatoon which is the largest labour market in Saskatchewan.Every day dozens of people commute from the city to Whitecap to work.

Education and Training

Whitecap community members enjoy a wide range of education and training opportunities both on and off Whitecap Lands. We have developed an educated and skilled labour force.

The Whitecap Elementary School is operated by Saskatoon Public School Division (SPSD) under a joint governance agreement providing pre-K to Grade 4 programming, concentrating on intensive early schooling with a strong Dakota language and culture component. WDFN is also expanding the Early Learning Centre to provide younger children with an advanced learning experience and strong cultural foundation. Whitecap students attend SPSD schools in Saskatoon for the balance of their schooling (Grades 5-12).

WDFN has been in partnership with Great Plains College for the past 4 years to offer ABE and GED programs to adult learners from both Whitecap and the surrounding region. By supplementing federal funding with its own revenues, WDFN continues to support all its members who wish to attend post-secondary education programs

AGRICULTURESoil and Irrigation

• Whitecap Dakota First Nation has 1630 acres under cultivation and the Whitecap Development Corp has 862 acres under cultivation.

• Crops grown historically and currently include wheat, canola, oats, barley, and peas.

• Soils are primarily loamy alluvium and clay alluviums ranging from type 2 to type 3 in cultivated lands.

• Irrigation is developed in southwest Dev Corp sections. Raises Soil rating to type 1.

• Flexible Agricultural leases available

Bison Ranch

• We currently manage a herd consisting of 30 head. Land is availble to expand the herd.

BUSINESSWhitecap Development Corporation

We are an investment corporation dedicated to our sole shareholder: Whitecap Dakota First Nation. We pride ourselves on developing innovative partnerships and we recognize that success comes from engaging business on a local, regional and global scale.

In order to be successful, you need to have vision and then you have to make that vision a reality. Our vision is to create wealth and prosperity for our shareholder and our partners. We make it happen through creative thinking, sound research and strategic planning.

We invite you to read about our partnerships and our investments. If you’re interested in investing with us or you’d like to learn more, please get in touch through our contact page. We welcome new ideas and partnership opportunities.

Chief Bear Business Park

ADVANTAGE

Chief Whitecap Trail - Designated as a tourism corridor, primary weight loads permitted between Whitecap and Saskatoon July to March inclusive. Secondary weight restrictions apply during April, May, and June.

Whitecap Dakota First Nation - Pop: 539Notable Attractions - Chief Darcy Bear Business Park - Dakota Dunes Golf Links - Dakota Dunes Casino

City of Saskatoon - Pop: 253, 000Notable Attractions - Saskatoon International Airport - CN and CPR Rail stations - University of Saskatchewan

Highway 11 - Primary highway, twinned, connects the three largest cities in Saskatchewan - Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.

Highway 16 - Interprovincial highway and heavy haul corridor, runs east-west and connects the western provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Highway 7 - Primary highway running from Saskatoon to the Alberta border, primarily used as a trade corridor and route to Calgary and the Rocky Mountains.

Highway 15 - Secondary highway that connects from Highway 4 (an international heavy haul corridor) and travels east to bisect highway 11 and connect with Highway 16. Section between Highway 4 and Highway 11 is designated as primary weight.

Highway 5 - Primary highway that runs east west from Saskatoon to the Manitoba border.

Location

• Whitecap is ideally situated within 20 km of the City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s largest labour market. White-cap is also located adjacent to or near several major transportation corridors, railways, and the Saskatoon International Airport. Over one million visitors travel to Whitecap on an annual basis

Services

• WDFN has formed partnerships that allow for any resi-dent or visitor to access the health services available at our newly built health clinic, including a nurse practitioner, Scheduled Doctor hours, mental health therapists, and a dentist.

• Whitecap is home to an RCMP attachment and a volun-teer fire department who provide fire protection services.

• A recently completed Early Learning Centre offers 56 day-care spaces that are available to the Whitecap labour force and rental housing is available in the community

Amenities

• The Dakota Dunes Resort features an award winning golf course, the largest First Nation owned gaming and entertainment facility in Saskatchewan, and will be the site of a resort hotel and conference facility currently under development.

F.A.Qs.What happens with political change?

The process for doing business at Whitecap would not change with a change of political leadership. The Whitecap Land Code defines the rules for Whitecap lands and requires a referendum vote by the community in order to make any changes.

What happens when my lease runs out?

Your lease should never run out unless you want it to. Lease agreements are all written with a renewal clause in them that can be trig-gered at any time by the tenant. A financial renewal formula in the lease and third party appraisals ensure fair and equitable lease rates under any renewal situation.

What happens if I want to sell my property?

Selling your property under leased land should be as easy as it would be under fee simple ownership. The sale of your property would include the transfer of the lease to the new owner.

How can projects be financed on reserve?

Financing construction or business start up on Whitecap lands is similar to other jurisdictions. No additional security requirements from the lender should be required. A number of major banks and credit unions have provided loans and mortgages for existing proj-ects on Whitecap lands.

Why can’t I buy the land?

Whitecap reserve lands and all reserve lands in Canada are specified by the Indian Act as a “tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band.” As they are actually federal lands they cannot be sold by the First Nation.

CONTACTWEBSITE

Band - whitecapdakota.com

Whitecap Development Corporation - whitecapdevcorp.com

PHONE

Band Office - 306-477-0908

ADDRESS

182 Chief Whitecap TrailWhitecap, SaskatchewanS7K 2L2