Our Story

History of the land and people

Our very name “Dakota” translates to “friend” or “ally”, and from time immemorial we have created alliances with many Indigenous and non-Indigenous Nations.

Our traditional government known as the Seven Council Fires or Oceti Sakowin, was an alliance of seven Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota groups. Together, we formed a powerful kinship network that shared natural laws, spiritual beliefs, and language, as along with vast trade and military ties.

Today, members of the Oceti Sakowin are located across Canada and the United States.

The territories of the Dakota have long been misunderstood and misrepresented by non-Dakota people, who do not understand either the seasonal use of our territory or how our concept of kinship connects us to the land and our territory.

We were labeled Americans or nomads. This first label disregards that our territories existed long before the establishment of the Canada-US border, while the second label overlooks that we had a well-defined and extensive territory that we shared with other Indigenous Nations.

As Dakota, our relationships encompass the land and all living things within our territory. We are dedicated stewards of both our lands and the environment.

Our traditional territory includes parts of what is currently southern Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, extending into Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and northern Montana.

Our Dakota ancestors followed the Tatanka (buffalo), which supplied food, shelter, clothing, and tools. The river system also sustained us by providing food, medicines, and water. The rivers, along with our ancient trail system, provided a vast travel network for trade and commerce with our Indigenous allies.

“As our ancestors moved throughout the territory, they gave important locations place names in our language. In Saskatchewan, this includes It̄ok̄aḣ Mŋiduza (South Saskatchewan River), Mni Taŋka (the portion of the South Saskatchewan River near Saskatoon), Wazi P̄aha (Cypress Hills), T̄a Ḣe (Moose Mountain), and Wakpa Ojat̄e, which translates as “lower forks on the river,” and refers to where the North Saskatchewan River and South Saskatchewan River meet. Dakota place names can be found as far north as the Deschambault Lake area, as well as the northwest head of the Churchill River, which is called Waḣaŋk̄sic̄a sk̄a wak̄p̄a waziyat̄a wiyoḣp̄eyep̄at̄a mnipa”.

Creation of Whitecap Dakota Nation

When European newcomers entered our territory, we established new alliances with them. We formed peace and trade agreements with the French in the mid-1600s and with the British Crown through ceremonies in the 1760s. The Dakota-Crown alliance was confirmed through the signing of a written treaty in 1787, which pledged peace, trade, and military cooperation. As longstanding allies of the British, we fought alongside them during the War of 1812. Throughout the conflict, the British assured us they would protect our homelands—but these promises were not upheld after signing of the Treaty of Ghent, leaving the Dakota under American jurisdiction. Following decades of mistreatment by the Americans, the Dakota rose in a conflict known as the “Minnesota War” in 1862. While some chose to fight against the Americans, many others did not. Large groups of Dakota, led by Itaŋcaŋ or Chiefs Wapaha Ska (Whitecap), Tatanka Najin (Standing Buffalo), and Taoyateduta (Littlecrow), moved to their northern territories to seek peaceful existence amongst their British allies.

Whitecap and his community continued their seasonal rounds through their territories on the prairies until forced onto reserve lands by the Canadian government in the 1870s. They strategically settled in the current location in 1879, known as Moose Woods. This was an historic Indigenous hunting and trade area spanning centuries that had plentiful game, traditional plants, and access to the river. There was a Hudson’s Bay Company outpost nearby.

The community fostered social and economic ties with the nearby Métis communities like Round Prairie, and later with local settlers. Non-Indigenous settlers did not arrive until the 1880s, when representatives of the Temperance Colonial Society including John Lake traveled along the South Saskatchewan River in search of a settlement site for the colony. At the time of John Lake’s August 1882 visit to the area, he held council with Chief Whitecap and others from the community to ascertain the best location. Chief Whitecap directed Lake to the area named “Mni Tanka,” [spelled Minnetonka by Lake] as it allowed for easy access to the river. In historical records from John Lake, it is noted that the area that would eventually become the City of Saskatoon was originally known as Mni Tanka, the Dakota term for "mighty water." This refers to the swiftly moving portion of the river before the construction of the Diefenbaker Dam. This area of the Saskatchewan River originally had a Dakota name illustrating its significance to the Dakota people and other Indigenous groups in the area. Chief Whitecap is now recognized as one of the founders of the city.

Today, there are three Dakota communities in Saskatchewan; Standing Buffalo, Wahpeton, and Whitecap Nations.

Whitecap Dakota Nation today

The Whitecap Dakota Nation is a modern and progressive Nation recognized nationally for its economic and community development successes. Whitecap Dakota’s social and economic success stems from its commitment to the spirit of alliance as many of their projects originated through partnerships in the local business community and public institutions.

With resourcefulness, creativity, and entrepreneurial vision, Whitecap serves as a business development leader in Canada today. The development and growth of the Whitecap community ensures the traditional cultural and values of the Whitecap Nation - such as respect, alliance, and resilience - will endure for future generations.