Whitecap Dakota First Nation has unveiled its plans for a Thermal spa in the community.
The spa, set to open in 2026, will be the first in Saskatchewan and the first Thermal spa in the country to incorporate Indigenous culture into its design. It will be attached to the already existing Dakota Dunes Hotel and Conference Centre.
The Dakota nation unveiled the design plans at an event Wednesday morning.
According to designers, the thermal pools will be in the layout of the Big Dipper constellation and the seven pools will represent the seven council fires of the Dakota people.
Whitecap Chief Darcy Bear says the spa is another step in the Dakota Nation taking its “rightful place” in the economy.
“If you look at nation building around the world every nation has an economy,” said Bear. “We as First Nations have been denied access to that economy and that is one of the things we have been pushing for.
(Indigenous Servicies Minister Patty Hajdu attended the event to announce funding for the project from Ottawa. Photo by Joel Willick)
Federal funding
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu was also in attendance for the event where she announced $15 million in funding for the project on behalf of the federal government.
“I really want to conragulate chief and council for this project coming to light because it is really your hard work that has allowed this to happen,” said Hajdu.
The total cost of the thermal spa is expected to be around $52 million.
(TOP PHOTO – A concept design poster for the planned thermal spa on Whitecap Dakota First Nation. Photo by Joel Willick)