Development plans unveiled for Sakimay First Nation reserve

Sakimay First Nation and Four Horse Development unveiled plans Thursday for a 260-acre urban reserve on Dewdney Avenue West.

The first 40 acres of the land to be completed in the first phase of the project, will feature anew ESSO station and a Tim Hortons. Another food vendor which has yet to be announced will also be included in the plan. This area will be known as Saulteaux Crossing Business Park.

A motel, office building and possible convention centre will be built on the landlater on.

"It is really a proud day for all of us," said Lynn Acoose, Chief of Sakimay First Nation. "It has been a hard road to get to this point today."

Pat Fiacco, former mayor of Regina and CEO of Four Horse Development, said this development will create thousands of jobs for First Nations and non-First Nations.

"It really is going to be a reflection of our community, which is absolutely fantastic." Fiacco said.

The land sits just outside city limitswithin the rural municipality of Sherwood near the Global Transportation Hub and along the soon to be built Regina Bypass.

As a result, thiswas the first time a municipal services agreement was signed by a First Nationoutside of Regina.

"This will set a precedent for other developments in and around the outskirts of Regina," said ReginaMayor Michael Fougere who was there to show his support for the new development.

A long process

Negotiations to develop on the Sakimay First Nationsland began years ago while Fiacco was still mayor said Acoose. In order to get the green light, the community had to go through Indigenous Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and follow statutory processes outlined in the Indian Act. Non-indigenous businesses and communities do not have to follow these procedures.

"It puts us at a disadvantage when we have to jump through all of these hoops," Acoose said. "We would be a lot more further ahead if we could move at the pace of business rather than the pace of the federal government."

Fiacco echoed that getting approvals with INAC was a challenge.

"I don't believe the Indian Act was ever meant to focus on economic development," he said.

"We need to look at ways in which First Nations doesn't have to go through a lot of the red tape non first nation businesses don't have to go through," he said. "It delays the process, it costs more money, it just doesn't make sense."

Construction on the first phase of the development will start Aug. 1.