The educational partnership agreement between Saskatoon Public Schools and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation was initially signed in September 2014, with provisions for renewal. It is supported by a companion funding agreement between the school division and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. The goal is to enhance educational opportunities and supports for all Whitecap students. The agreement sees federal funding for the education of Whitecap students flow to Saskatoon Public Schools.
Charles Red Hawk Elementary School, located on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, is an alliance school of Saskatoon Public Schools. The school is operated by Saskatoon Public Schools and all professional teaching staff are employees of the division. Students from the first nation attend Charles Red Hawk School from prekindergarten to Grade 4.
Beginning in Grade 5, students attend Chief Whitecap School, located in the Stonebridge neighbourhood. Chief Whitecap is the designated school for Whitecap Dakota First Nation students in Grade 5-8. As part of this partnership, the federal government provided $2.7 million in funding to support additional space and amenities as part of the construction of Chief Whitecap School.
The educational alliance is an extension of long-standing agreements in place since the mid-1990s for Whitecap students to attend public schools in Saskatoon.
Contact Charles Red Hawk Elementary School at 306-477-2063 or follow on Facebook.
Chief Whitecap School is named for Chief Whitecap (Wapaha Ska) who is recognized as a co-founder of the city of Saskatoon and played a vital role in building important relationships between the Dakota people and the European settlers.
The traditional territory of the Dakota people includes parts of Canada and the U.S. and in the early 1860s many Dakota decided to permanently move north to avoid conflict and live in peace. Led by chiefs Whitecap, Standing Buffalo and Littlecrow, the Dakota followed trade routes into their northern territories. Chief Whitecap established his community along the South Saskatchewan River.
By 1879, Chief Whitecap and his people were settled on reserve lands located approximately 26 kilometres south of present-day Saskatoon, where the Whitecap Dakota people established friendships and alliances with the region's Métis and settler communities. In 1882, Chief Whitecap advised John Lake on the best location along the South Saskatchewan River for the establishment of Lake's temperance colony that would grow to become Saskatoon.
During the Riel Resistance of 1885, Chief Whitecap ensured that the young community of Saskatoon was protected. He, along with members of his community, travelled with the Métis to Batoche in order to provide guidance. Although he was arrested for treason, Chief Whitecap was acquitted based in part by settler testimony that he had always been honest and loyal to the Crown.
Chief Whitecap, who died in 1889, created a bond between the people of the Dakota First Nation and neighbouring communities.
The Whitecap Early Learning Centre is a licensed childcare facility that can support up to 56 children, aged 6 months to 5 years. The Centre is managed by Preston Early Learning Centre and is open to both Band members and non-member families.
The Centre is dedicated to the care of your children and are proud to provide an environment that is respectful, supportive and nurturing. We believe in educating the whole child; intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually with a strong emphasis on the Dakota Culture.
The Centre is open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday, and closed on weekends. For more information regarding the Whitecap Children’s Centre please contact the manager of Whitecap Children Centre at 306-477-2086.
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