WHITECAP DAKOTA NATION, TREATY 6 TERRITORY, Sask. — The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, alongside Chief Darcy Bear of the Whitecap Dakota Nation, recently announced $15 million to support the construction of Dakota Dunes Thermal Spa, the first thermal-style spa in Saskatchewan. The total cost of the project is expected to reach $52 million.
The spa, which will be built adjacent to both the Dakota Dunes Resort, casino and golf course, is expected to generate 320 construction jobs and an additional 166 operational jobs for residents in Whitecap Dakota Nation and the nearby city of Saskatoon. It will also boost attendance and occupancy of the existing resort amenities and create a new tourism destination.
The new spa incorporates thermal waters therapy including saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools, hot tubs and relaxation areas with Indigenous elements, design features and theme throughout the facility.
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has also invested more than $2 million towards this project through the Community Opportunity Readiness and Lands and Economic Development Services Programs to cover costs such as architectural fees for concept, block schematic, design and construction.
“There are more than 300 thermal spas in Canada and the U.S. The $52 million Dakota Dunes Thermal Spa will be the first one in Saskatchewan and the first Indigenous-themed thermal spa in Canada. It’ll truly make the Dakota Dunes Resort a world-class destination,” says Chief Bear.
“Whitecap Dakota Nation is quickly becoming a touristic hub in Saskatchewan,” says Minister Hajdu. “This expansion will help reinforce that, attract more people and create more good-paying jobs for the community. It moves us further on the path to economic reconciliation and will help everyone get a fair chance to succeed.”
