Portage, Long Plain and Dakota Plains strengthen ties through national partnership
Author: Maryssa McFadden
Date: October 16, 2025
Source: PortageOnline
Long Plain First Nation, Dakota Plains Wahpeton Nation, and the City of Portage la Prairie are working together under a new national initiative focused on long-term collaboration and economic development.
The three communities have joined the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI), a program by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The program helps First Nations and municipalities build stronger relationships, plan together, and find new ways to grow sustainably.
“This collaboration is crucial for the future of our communities, ensuring that we thrive together in harmony and progress,” says Portage Mayor Sharilyn Knox. “Building strong working relationships with our Indigenous neighbours is a top priority for our council. Together, we’re not only fostering mutual respect but also laying the groundwork for shared prosperity and sustainable growth.”
On October 15, the group met for their second workshop, spending the day connecting, sharing ideas, and discussing how they can work together to achieve their goals.
Program officers from FCM and Cando, Hannah Enns and Carmelle Nepoose, helped lead the session. This partnership is unique, they explained, as it’s the first tri-community collaboration in the current CEDI cohort.
“At the heart of this program is relationship-building. We’re here to help create strong, respectful, and long-lasting partnerships between the First Nations and the municipality, ones that are truly driven by the communities themselves,” Nepoose explains.
The workshops are a space for cultural learning, open dialogue, and collaborative planning. One of the first projects the group has chosen to focus on is the upcoming Prairie Unity Powwow, set to take place in December.
“We really encourage shared learning between the Nations and the city. It’s about understanding each other’s communities, building cultural awareness, and finding where goals overlap. That’s how strong partnerships are built,” Enns adds.
Terry Myran, CEO of Arrowhead Development Corporation with Long Plain First Nation, says the partnership is already helping the communities learn from each other.
“I feel that together, we can develop a strong relationship and create new opportunities. Each community has its own successes and challenges, but by sharing and working together, we can make progress easier, helping us all move forward at a faster pace,” Myran notes.
Dakota Plains Wahpeton Nation Chief Don Smoke called the workshops an important step toward both economic reconciliation and regional growth.
“Dakota Plains is thrilled about the chance to forge partnerships that can lead to significant economic development in and around Portage la Prairie. By combining our resources, we can streamline our efforts and make faster progress. This represents a vital step toward economic reconciliation,” Smoke continues.
Throughout the program, participants meet monthly and take part in workshops that focus on shared learning, governance, and long-term community planning. And while the program runs through to 2027, the goal remains simple.
“At the end of the day, it’s about building relationships that last.”
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