Reconciliation in Action.
A Bold Vision for a Better Future.
SCO’s Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn Project Reimagines Iconic Hudson’s Bay Heritage Building After HBC Governor Makes Historic Gift
A Bold Vision for a New Future
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is proud to announce its project to transform the iconic Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) heritage building in downtown Winnipeg. Working closely with HBC and our federal, provincial, and municipal Treaty partners, SCO has developed a visionary plan that will turn the building into a space for economic and social reconciliation.
The multi-million dollar project will create social and economic opportunity, revitalizing the HBC building while preserving its important heritage and helping to revive Winnipeg’s downtown core.
Read more about the SCO HBC Building Project here.
SCO Annual Donation Drive
SCO is pleased to host our second annual Donation Drive to support our unhoused relatives in Winnipeg.
We will be accepting various donations at our Winnipeg sub-offices at 1572 Dublin Avenue or 202-600 Empress Street.
SCO has chosen the Main Street Project as this year’s beneficiary for our donation drive. Every year during the holiday season, the Main Street Project gathers donated items and assembles more than 500 gift packages so that each of their community members has their own gift to open the morning of December 25th.
For more information and to review the list of donations we will be accepting, visit our Donation Drive webpage.
SCO and SFNNC Holiday Open House
Southern Chiefs’ Organization and the Southern First Nations Network of Care are excited to invite you to join us for our Holiday Open House!
Join us and celebrate the holidays as we enjoy refreshments and good company.
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
202-600 Empress Street Winnipeg, MB
11:00am – 2:00pm
Grand Chief
Jerry Daniels
Jerry Daniels is Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), representing 34 Anishnaabe and Dakota communities in southern Manitoba. In January of 2020, he was acclaimed for a second term, the first time a Grand Chief has run unopposed in SCO’s history.
Media
SCO represents 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in what is now southern Manitoba. Browse our news archive and stay up-to-date on coverage of our work to protect, preserve, promote, and enhance the lives and rights of First Nations peoples.
Community
Want news and updates from our communities? Looking for in-depth information and discussion on issues important to the lives of First Nation peoples? Interested in meeting our staff and finding out what they do as part of SCO? We cover all this and more in our community-focused newsletter.
Education
We compiled a comprehensive resource list to help you find financial supports for post-secondary education, including scholarships, bursaries, awards, and the Canada Learning Bond. You can also access information on residential and day schools, the Sixties Scoop, MMIWG2S+, anti-racism, and Treaty Rights, as well as information on how to Get Your Benefits! and a curated list to read, watch and listen!
Southern Chiefs' Organization
SCO represents 34 Anishinaabe & Dakota Nations in what is now southern Manitoba https://scoinc.mb.ca/
BRANDON RESIDENTS: DO YOU NEED A STATUS CARD?
Today is the final day of our status card clinic in Brandon.
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization is able to help First Nations citizens apply for and/or register for a Secure Certificate of Indian Status on a WALK-IN BASIS.
There is no charge for this service!
WHEN: Today, Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
WHERE: Brandon Friendship Centre, 205 College Avenue, #brandon, Manitoba
Please try to bring a piece of identification.
You can find out more about our Status Card Program, along with a list of acceptable ID, on our website: scoinc.mb.ca/status-cards/
#SCOINCMB #SCOYOUTH #StatusCard #treaty #firstnation #manitoba
🚨 MISSING WOMAN 🚨
Leah Faye Keeper is 32 years old.
She has been missing since July 25, 2023.
Last seen in the area of Salter and Selkirk Avenue in Winnipeg, she frequents the North End area.
She is 5 foot 3, 115 pounds with a thin build, and she has brown hair and brown eyes.
If you have any information on Leah’s whereabouts, please call the Winnipeg Police Service’s Missing Persons Unit at 204-986-6250 or the Bear Clan at 204-794-3568.
See: www.aboriginalalert.ca/missingpersons/leah-faye
#SCOINCMB #MMIWG #MMIWG2S+ #Winnipeg #Manitoba
SCO REFLECTS ON THE PASSING OF LORD SELKIRK OF DOUGLAS
The Right Honourable Lord Selkirk of Douglas, whose name was James Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, has passed away at the age of 81.
Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, on behalf of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), is expressing condolences to the family and loved ones of the late Lord Selkirk of Douglas.
“Lord Selkirk had a long-lasting relationship with former Chief Jim Bear of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. I was also fortunate to meet him when I was first elected as the Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization in 2017, when we commemorated the 200-year anniversary of the Peguis-Selkirk Treaty. Lord Selkirk was a kind man, who carried on the friendship and relationship his ancestors established with our First Nations ancestors more than 200 years ago. I am grateful that my son and I were able to spend time with Lord Selkirk earlier this year. On behalf of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, I express condolences to all those who knew and loved James Alexander Douglas-Hamilton and I express my gratitude for his friendship,” reflected Grand Chief Daniels.
The Lord’s ancestor, Thomas Douglas, the fifth Earl of Selkirk, was signatory to the Peguis-Selkirk Treaty. Signed on July 18, 1817, at Fort Douglas in Winnipeg, the goal of the Treaty was ensuring peace between predominantly Scottish settlers and local First Nations people. Chief Peguis, allied Chiefs Mache Wheseab, Mechkaddewikonaie, Kayajieskebinoa, and Ouckidoat, were also signatories to the Treaty.
The Peguis-Selkirk Treaty was the first instance of a formal written agreement recognizing First Nations land rights in western Canada. This Treaty respected First Nations governance, lands, jurisdiction, and the desire to coexist in peace and harmony.
Lord Selkirk recognized the importance of the Peguis-Selkirk Treaty. The legacy will live on as we look forward to the installation of the monument honouring Chief Peguis and the Treaty he helped to negotiate. The statue will be installed at the Manitoba legislative grounds in 2024. It is hoped the monument will be unveiled on September 28, 2024, which is the 160th anniversary of the death of Chief Peguis.
This monument will serve as a visual reminder and teaching tool of the contributions First Nations citizens have made in the formation of our beautiful province. The historic monument will feature a statue of Chief Peguis and inscriptions commemorating all five Treaty signatory Chiefs.
Lord Selkirk served for 23 years as a Member of Parliament for Edinburgh, Scotland. He also once served as a page to Queen Elizabeth II and was part of her coronation procession in 1953. He was a husband and a father to four sons and was widely recognized as a distinguished gentleman who showed respect to everyone.
May the ongoing friendship of Lord Selkirk with our First Nations leadership be a reminder of the enduring ties and the importance of the relationship between the settlers and the First Nations people who were signatories to the Peguis-Selkirk Treaty.
#SCOINCMB #Peguis #ChiefPeguis #WeAreAllTreatyPeople #FirstNations #Manitoba
BRILLIANCE IN BROKENHEAD
A very talented group of students from the Sergeant Tommy Prince School in the Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation recently received special accolades for their computer skills.
Under the direction of grade nine teacher Vanessa Lathlin, they came away with top honours at an Esport competition held by the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre.
Participants were tasked with creating a Minecraft scenario. Minecraft is an endless world of complex, programmable LEGOs that allows players to imagine, design, and create anything they dream up.
In the case of the Brokenhead team, they developed a scene that incorporated a pixelated replica of a residential school and grave sites.
While a heavy topic, the students say it needs to explored and discussed, even in an online gaming format.
Along with sharing scenes and stories about their culture, they also had to learn how to code and develop graphics.
Pictured here is Ms. Lathlin, along with grade five student Rain Prince, grade eight students Micah Sinclair and Kendrick Bear, along with Kaiden Bear, who is in grade nine. Missing from the photo is grade nine student Naeyli Desjarlais.
Today, we salute these young learners for doing their part in sharing our history through the latest technology.
#SCOINCMB #SCOYOUTH #brokenheadojibwayfirstnation #sergeanttommyprinceschool #esports #minecraft #education #technology #manitoba
CREATING A SAFER COMMUNITY IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization encourages Anishinaabe and Dakota citizens to take part in our #16daysofactivism.
Today is the fifth day of the campaign. Miigwetch, pidamiye, and thank you to the citizens who are standing with us in support of building safer communities!
“The Southern Chiefs’ Organization is hosting this social media campaign to encourage conversations and dialogue around the importance of ending gender-based violence,” says SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels.
“Violence is not the way of our people. I encourage Anishinaabe and Dakota citizens of all ages and all genders to talk about this issue. Many of our people are impacted by it. It is not easy to talk about violence, but discussing this issue can help us take steps towards ending cycles of violence to help protect our sacred citizens.”
Citizens may wish to get involved in our campaign by sending original artwork and photographs that portray encouraging and supportive messages in terms of ending gender-based violence. You can also take a photo of yourself and/or their loved ones sharing messages of support, similar to the ones being shared by our leaders pictured here.
Your contributions will be shared on SCO social media channels as part of the 16 Days of Activism. Three people from SCO member Nations will be eligible to receive a gift card worth $100 as appreciation for your efforts.
SCO citizens can email their artwork and/or photos to media@scoinc.mb.ca by December 7, 2023. Be sure to include the name of your SCO First Nation with your email.
To learn more about things you can do to help end gender-based violence, please visit our webpage that shares 16 actions to end gender-based violence: scoinc.mb.ca/16-actions/
Pictured here: SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels; Chief Gordon Bluesky of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation; Joy Cramer, CEO of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization; and Chief Cornell McLean of the Lake Manitoba First Nation.
#SCOINCMB #SCOHealth #FirstNations #Manitoba
