A Sask. First Nation success story – Regina Leader-Post

July 6, 2015

A small First Nations community called Whitecap Dakota, located just outside of Saskatoon, had a lot to celebrate last National Aboriginal Day. Whitecap Dakota describes itself as a modern and progressive First Nation with a proud culture and a strong sense of community. It has 630 members, of whom 47 per cent live on reserve, and it is governed by one chief and only two councillors.

For the past 21 years the community has been led by Chief Darcy Bear, who was first elected chief at the age of 26. When he took office the unemployment rate on reserve was 70 per cent, the on-reserve education system was broken and the small community was running a deficit of $350,000. With the support of his council and community, Chief Bear has brought the unemployment rate down to five per cent and has created business opportunities that have generated over $6.7 million annually in own-source revenue.

The community now has an education system on reserve that is so successful that non-First Nations parents in neighbouring Saskatoon want to send their children to his reserve school.

Read More: http://www.leaderpost.com/business/Sask+First+Nation+success+story/11190550/story.html