Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan

Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan and the federal government have signed a Framework Agreement to negotiate self-government. “The signing of this agreement is an important milestone along a path of renewal and reconciliation,” said Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan. “Self-government agreements give Aboriginal groups greater control over the decisions that affect their communities, laying the foundation for sound governance and an improved quality of life for their members,” Chief Darcy Bear said. “A self-government agreement will recognize the Whitecap Dakota First Nation as a government with the ability to create laws, authorities and empower our community members to break the cycle of dependence created by the Indian Act.” This Framework Agreement marks the start of a process for determining Whitecap Dakota law-making powers, including how they will manage their resources, preserve their culture and build on their successes in economic development. As the next step in the process, the parties will begin negotiations of an Agreement-in-Principle. Whitecap Dakota First Nation is located approximately 26 km south of Saskatoon and has 562 members living on- and off-reserve.