Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Community Development Plan
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| i CONTENTS Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... i Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 What is a Community Development Plan? ...................................................................................... 1 Community Development Plan Structure ......................................................................................... 2 Community Development Plan Process .......................................................................................... 3 Community Engagement.................................................................................................................. 4 Community Vision ............................................................................................................ 5 Vision Statement .............................................................................................................................. 5 Mission Statement ............................................................................................................................ 5 Community History ........................................................................................................... 6 Community Today ............................................................................................................ 7 Historic & Current Population ........................................................................................................... 8 Projected Future Population & Housing Needs ............................................................................... 9 Planning for the Future ................................................................................................... 10 Housing .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Land & Resources .......................................................................................................................... 14 Community Land & Resources Priorities ....................................................................................... 15 Education ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Governance .................................................................................................................................... 20 Community Governance Priorities ................................................................................................. 21 Health ............................................................................................................................................. 23 Justice ............................................................................................................................................ 26 Economy ........................................................................................................................................ 28 Culture ............................................................................................................................................ 31 Recreation & Youth ........................................................................................................................ 33 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................................. 35 Community Action .......................................................................................................... 37 Updating this Plan .......................................................................................................................... 37 Implementation Table ..................................................................................................................... 37 Acknowledgements | i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On behalf of the community we would like to acknowledge all the work, currently and in the past, that has gone into creating this Community Development Plan by recognizing: » Chief and Council; » Ahtahkakoop Staff; » Team members for assisting with the community survey and creating awareness of the project in the community; » All members who participated and shared their ideas; » Urban Systems for providing community planning support; and » Christopher Iron, Community Navigator. i | Community Development Plan Acknowledgements | 1 INTRODUCTION What is a Community Development Plan? This Community Development Plan (CDP) is an approach to community planning that integrates many key priority areas for growth and development in Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation (Ahtahkakoop). The CDP provides Ahtahkakoop staff, leadership, and members direction on how key issues in the community should be addressed leading towards self-sufficiency. It is a community-endorsed CDP that should be used to leverage funding and partnerships from external agencies. Ahtahkakoop has undertaken significant work to develop this CDP, including engaging with community members, youth, Elders, staff, and Chief and Council. Engagement is critical as the community grows and pursues new opportunities. It is important that Ahtahkakoop’s vision, goals, and proposed actions are clearly articulated and endorsed by the community. The community is committed to a CDP that captures local ideas and aspirations, provides direction for the future, and serves as a tool for immediate and ongoing action. Introduction | 1 Introduction | Housing | 1 Community Development Plan Structure This CDP is made up of the following six sections: 2 | Community Development Plan Community Development Plan Process The planning process consisted of the following four stages: Introduction | 3 Community Engagement The most fundamental characteristic of the CDP process is that it is community driven. Ideas contained in this CDP have strength, power and endurance because they come from the people of Ahtahkakoop. Over the past year, members were engaged through a variety of community surveys and gatherings. Community wide surveys were administered, throughout the Youth, Elders, Urban and Ahtahkakoop department heads. Ideas and strategies described in this CDP are a direct response to the concerns, suggestions, and feedback of community members, band staff and Chief and Council. Additional community engagement efforts should be undertaken to ensure the plan continues to reflect community needs. Making a difference on the ground requires a continued commitment to the community vision. It also requires passion, ingenuity and imagination so that community supports are put in place, band members are inspired, and the community is fuelled by pride and hope. 4 | Community Development Plan COMMUNITY VISION Vision Statement Be a leader in Governance, Administration and Economic Development using the guiding principle of Chief Ahtahkakoop: “Let us not think of ourselves, but of our children’s children”. Mission Statement Ahtahkakoop will continue to advocate in the protection of and preservation of our Treaty and Inherent Rights. We will strive towards improving the quality of life for our people and community by elevating the economic, education and social standards. Community Vision | |5 5 COMMUNITY HISTORY Born in 1816, Chief Ahtahkakoop (translated to Starblanket in Cree) rose to be a respected and tactical leader of the Cree Nation in the latter part of the 19th century. At the onset of his leadership, the plains buffalo herds were abundant and provided the mainstay of social and economic balance vital to the survival of its people. The arrival of the European settlers irrevocably altered this delicate balance, forcing Chief Ahtahkakoop to seek alternate means of survival for his own. In 1876, he and his cousin, Chief Mistawasis, were the two leading Chiefs to sign Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton, agreeing to relocate his members to 67 square miles of land, now known as Sandy Lake, near present day Prince Albert. He died on December 4, 1896 at the age of 81. Despite the hardships and gruelling decisions faced by Chief Ahtahkakoop, he remained revered by the Cree Nation, enough so for the reserve land that he is buried on to bear his name to this day. The Ahtahkakoop flag was commissioned on September 15, 1995 and was designed by Willard Ahenakew, great, great grandson of Chief Ahtahkakoop. On the flag there are 276 stars representing the number of ancestors of the first Treaty 6 pay list of 1876, with 133 larger stars representing the men and women, and 143 stars representing the children. The Sun, Thunderbird, Medicine Staff and Buffalo represent important emblems of the Plains Cree culture. The night our namesake was born, it is said that the sky was unusually bright with many, many stars and thus he was given the name “Ahtahkakoop.” 6 | Community Development Plan COMMUNITY TODAY This section highlights the state of the community today, historic and current population information, future population projections, and future housing needs. Population growth affects everything from services and programs to infrastructure, housing and economic development opportunities. Understanding population trends helps the community prepare for the future. Community Today | 7 Historic & Current Population It is important to understand data related to population to determine future needs for housing, facilities, and services, and how growth may impact