The Whitecap Dakota First Nation is home to a casino and golf course and next on the list is a hotel and conference centre.
The federal government’s Minister of Indigenous Services, Jane Philpott, was on hand for the ground breaking ceremony, along with Chief Darcy Bear.
The hotel will feature Indigenous themes and decor with 155 rooms, a fitness centre, business center, pool and restaurant.
It’s estimated the facility will create 150 new full and part-time jobs and will help to stimulate the local economy by contributing to spin-off businesses and more visitors to the casino and golf course.
Indigenous Services Canada contributed $8.6-million for the project with a total estimated cost for the construction at $38-million.
Construction is expected to create around 230 jobs until the work is done in 2020.
The hotel is expected to also generate $230-million in economic benefits for the Saskatoon regional economy over ten years.