First Nation enjoys economic turnaround

The Whitecap Dakota First Nation, just outside Saskatoon, is enjoying the benefits of an economic turnaround and now plans to embark on a historic self-government process.

Chief Darcy Bear, who has been a leader in the band for20 years, credits everyone in the community to the band's success.

He was first elected to band council in 1991 and in 1994was elected chief.

On the business development front, the reserve is home to several businesses including a golf course, casino, and condominium complexes.

'Things are actually falling into place.' Whitecap Dakota First Nation Chief Darcy Bear

Bear says the changes are significant, compared to a time, some 17 years ago, when the unemployment was around 70 per cent.

"We actually had no money in the bank," Bear recalled. "We were in an overdraft. We had a stack of payables. Our community was also bouncing cheques to staff."

Bear said work on finances began with hiring an accountant, developing spending policies and raising money for infrastructure.

Economic turnaround

Today, unemployment is around four per cent and the band has an annual budget of $25 million, with most of its revenues coming from the reserve's business portfolio.

"Ten years of actually trying to build a nation," is how Bear describes the work that has been done. "Ten years [of] moving on economic development, and now things are actually falling into place."

Bear also remembered his childhood on the reserve, and noted how different things were just 26 kilometres away in Saskatoon.

"I was actually raised in the community here by my grandparents," he said. "I've seen the times when we still had outhouses [and] still had to haul water and cut wood. Here we were 26 kilometres away from a city and they had running water and water and sewer systems."

The band is also working on a new relationship with the federal government.

Self-government sought

Bear says the arrangement with Ottawa, based upon the Indian Act, needs to change.

"It was just the system that was set up, the Indian Act, it was meant to keep us dependent," Bear believes. "[And] when you're dependent on somebody, they have power over you. So you have to break that dependency and start empowering the people."

Self-government negotiatons set to begin

The federal government and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation have agreed to a negotiation process on self-government. According to a news release issued Wednesday, the goal is to determine law-making powers for the First Nation, including "how they will manage their resources, preserve their culture and build on their successes in economic development."

The agreement will "also include arrangements to ensure harmonious relationships with other governments."

Bear's view of the Indian Act is that it, and other federal government policies, have done considerable harm to First Nations.

"The challenge every one of our communities faces is the Indian Act," Bear said. "It was never a piece of legislation meant for us to bring any economic opportunityto our land, create opportunities for our people. It was meant to keep us out of sight, out of mind.

"Then,the Residential School assimilation process[came] and you take away our youth, language, culture," he added. "And youwonder why there's some dysfunction."

Bear said while much has been accomplished at Whitecap,"there's still so much more to do."

A major initiative is negotiating a self-government agreement.

A signing ceremony is set for Thursday in Ottawa, to begin the process that will lead to self-government for the band.

According to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Aboriginal self-government refers to governance arrangements which "support the achievement of 'good governance'governance that is participatory, accountable, responsive, efficient and effective, transparent and that operates by the rule of law."