Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2019
The Collaborative Leadership Initiative formalizes a working relationship between Municipal leaders and Southern Chiefs
Municipal leaders of the Winnipeg METRO Region (WMR) and the Chiefs of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) will make history on Friday March 1, 2019 at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site in St. Andrews, Manitoba – the location of the historic signing of Treaty 1 in 1871, 148 years ago. The 25 elected leaders working together in the Collaborative Leadership Initiative (CLI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding recognizing the considerable political value of First Nation and municipal governments formally agreeing to work together on common goals and interests.
“Through the CLI, we have created a strong platform to further build our relationship by sharing the priorities and needs of our communities with each other,” said Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of SCO, “By signing the MOU on Friday, we are formalizing our relationship, as two levels of government. This enables us to progressively lead our communities toward shared prosperity, sustainable economic development and healthy lands and waters, working with other levels of government and the business sector”.
DATE: Friday March 1, 2019
TIME: MOU Signing at 1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site – St. Andrews, Manitoba
The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) is comprised of 18 municipalities that include and surround Winnipeg. It provides the platform for municipalities to work on projects that cross boundaries in support of good growth, good stewardship and good governance.
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is an organization that represents 34 southern First Nation communities in Manitoba, and was established in March 1999. SCO works as an independent political forum to protect, preserve, promote, and enhance First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.
The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) is a national First Nation directed environmental charitable organization. CIER’s mission is to work in partnership with Indigenous nations to conduct research and provide training to Build Sustainable Communities and Protect Lands and Waters.
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For more information: Colleen Sklar, Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) 204-781-7346 or colleen@wmregion.ca