Dana Soonias is a member of Red Pheasant First Nation. Over the past 20 years, he has held senior positions with financial, indigenous and government institutions with lead roles in retail, finance, business and economic development. 

Dana holds a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager designation through the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) Canada. He also received his Institute of Corporate Directors designation from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.  

He led the design and implementation of the Wanuskewin Heritage Park where he served as CEO for almost a decade. He took the institution from near bankruptcy to a national award winning organization. His efforts included raising $40 million for the Thundering Ahead Campaign as well as adding Wanuskewin to Canada’s Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage sites.  

He is currently the Director of Economic Development and Employment Training Services at the Saskatoon Tribal Council serving over 33,000 First Nations people, urban and rural, in and around the City of Saskatoon.  

He has served on various boards and committees across the country, including as Past Chair of the National Board of AFOA Canada, First Nations Financial Management Board, National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Investment Management Board and STC Industrial Contracting.