This week Richard speaks with Chief Darcy Bear of Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan. Having been a leader for the past 30 years, he says land code governance helped his community to move at the speed of business, with a casino, hotel, and golf course development and significant infrastructure that will support the community for generations.
SHOW NOTES:
01:42 Why Whitecap Dakota FN embraced the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management and the Land Code process. Fighting paternalism and lack of opportunity.
3:13 Remembers stories from his grandparents who raised him about the days of Indian Agents, permits and the Indian Affairs "dictatorship."
4:00 Connecting with Robert Louie of Westbank back in the early days of the Framework Agreement.
5:02 His Nation saw the benefits of a land code, especially when it saw huge delays in getting ministerial sign-off for a golf course development. It took three years!
6:03 His Saskatoon Tribal Council involvement in a casino project, and the ability in a land code to offer 99-year leases for commercial development.
7:20 He lists the many financial institutions now doing business in the community.
8:03 The huge infrastructure investments required to support new commercial and residential development.
9:58 The land code has given his community greater creativity and flexibility to operate at the speed of business.
13:00 Using own-source revenues to fund community culture and education.
14:03. Ongoing challenges of trying to find collateral to support individuals going into business.
16:15 There was a time when the Band didn't have a dime in its bank account. From there to $150 million in capital investments!
18:58 Chief Bear's perspective on the 25th anniversary of the Framework Agreement.
20:41 The sad history of lack of development despite location near the city of Saskatoon.
23:50 Collaborating with other governments to build a tourism corridor from Saskatoon to Lake Diefenbaker.
25:30 The history of alliances at Whitecap Dakota and the strange treatment of those who fought alongside the British.
LINKS:
Whitecap Dakota First Nation
Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management
First Nations Land Management Resource Centre