The hotel fraternity welcomed its second new member to the fold within the last year Thursday as Home Inn & Suites held its official ribbon cutting.
The hotel located next to the Painted Hand Casino is something the city needed, suggested Yorkton Deputy Mayor Ross Fisher.
"We needed this investment," he said, adding the city also needed additional hotel rooms to facilitate growth. " It helps us grow. It helps us facilitate other activities in our city."
FSIN Vice Chief Simon Bird said having a hotel project like the one undertaken by the First Nation is important, calling it "what we believe is the way to the future." He added it is important because "our people are active participants in the economy," through such projects.
Bird also noted the project is a good example of building partnerships in particular Kahkewistahaw First Nation with d3h Hotels Inc.
Bird added it is through projects such as the hotel that jobs are created, and from that wealth for further developments.
Don Rosten, CEO of d3h Hotels Inc., said the opening is really an example of the growing economic participation by First Nations people in Saskatchewan. He said it was "39-years ago since I first started working with First Nations back then the First Nations economy was very small, a very small contributor to the overall economy of Saskatchewan."
That has changed in the last four decades thanks to projects such as the hotel, offered Rosten.
"The First Nations economy (now) is a major contributor to the Saskatchewan economy I think that's a wonderful thing."
Kahkewistahaw First Nation Chief Sheldon Taypotat said the opening was of course a big one for his people.
"Today's a special day for Kahkewistahaw band members," he said, then adding "today's a special day for Yorkton."
In terms of Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Taypotat said the hotel "is going to open up opportunities for my people This is a dream come true for our people."
