Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, and Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky announced a $15 million federal government support for a proposed Convention and Cultural Event Centre, which when completed, is being touted as a ”historic Indigenous-municipal partnership” between the three Woodland Cree First Nations, Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB); Montreal Lake Cree Nation (MLCN); and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) and the City of Prince Albert, according to a Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC)
The proposed centre has been named: kistahpinanihk, which translates to “the Meeting Place.
“This announcement puts real momentum behind a partnership that has been built carefully over time,” MLCN Chief Joyce McLeod said in a news release. “Prince Albert has always been our meeting place – where our people come for business, education, health care and community events. Today’s funding helps turn that shared understanding into a place our people can see, use and take pride in.”
The Woodland Cree First Nations and the City of Prince Alberts signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2024 “establishing a cooperative framework to jointly explore funding opportunities” to move forward with the proposed centre.
The Woodland Cree, per the agreement, would own up to 45 per cent of the facility, once it’s completed. The City of Prince Albert would retain the remaining ownership.
Belanger announced the federal funding comes through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.
Northern leaders said the shared-ownership model reflects the intent of Truth and reconciliation Call to Action 92, which calls for meaningful Indigenous participation in economic development initiatives.
“Reconciliation has to live in the structure of the project, not just in the language around it. Ownership gives our Nations a real voice, real accountability and a real stake in what is being built,” LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said.
Located in Prince Albert, the vision for the centre evolves around tourism, cultural, business, recreational and entertainment, which will augment the northern First Nations relations ship with Prince Albert as a shopping, business, recreation and education hub.
”For our Nations, this project opens real doors,” PBCN Chief Peter Beatty said. “From the start, we are talking about apprenticeship, training, skills development and long-term employment. This project has the potential to create up to 500 job, and expectation is that Indigenous people will be helping build it, operate it and [get] benefits from it.”
The centre is envisioned to provide a permanent setting contributing to healing, mental wellness and community connection, along with a place to host a variety of events, including small or larger gatherings to larger conferences, concerts and sporting events
“Sport has a way of breaking down barriers when words fall shorts. Our communities understand the power of sport to heal, inspire and life our young people up. This centre has the potential to strengthen youth, family and the entire region,” PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said in a press release.
According to the Woodland Cree Chiefs, federal funding “marks a key milestone and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing kistahpinanihk as a shared-ownership project rooted in reconciliation, partnership and long-term regional benefit.”
