Protect Yourself.
Protect Your Family.
Check out our COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below for reliable information on the COVID-19 vaccine.
#ProtectOurPeopleMB Vaccine Campaign
Everyone is encouraged to follow and share videos and posts from the Protect Our People MB campaign accounts: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ProtectOurPeopleMB using the hashtags: #protectyourself #protectourpeople #protectourcommunities #protectourpeoplemb #doitforourelders #doitforourchildren #vaccineproud
For more information visit protectourpeoplemb.ca.
Non-Insured Health Benefits Navigator
Do you have questions about your Non-Insured Health Benefits?
Check out our NIHB FAQ or contact our NIHB Navigator at 204-946-1869 ext. 120 or by email at
SCO Celebrates Indigenous History Month
For centuries, First Nation peoples have survived against all odds: European invasion, colonial institutions, and systemic racism.
Though our history of transformational and historical figures is not often taught in Canadian schools, they deserve a place in every history book.
That’s why, for this Indigenous History Month, SCO will celebrate our own southern First Nation “History Makers”!
Check out our History Makers here.
COVID-19 Updates
As Chiefs and Councilors, health leaders, essential workers and community members work to protect our people and communities, we ask everyone to continue to take precautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the new and dangerous variants.
On-Reserve Vaccine Update:
The Moderna vaccine has been distributed to all First Nations in Manitoba for those 18 years of age and older.
The Pfizer vaccine is approved for youth 12-17 and has already begun to be delivered.
Off-Reserve Vaccine Update:
Everyone aged 12 and older are eligible to schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine!
Beginning May 24, all Indigenous people aged 12 and up in Manitoba can begin booking their second dose appointments.
Please call 1-844-626-8222 to book an appointment (call centre is open seven days a week from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM) or book online in order to be vaccinated. You will be asked to self-identify as First Nations as part of the appointment-booking process. Family members and caregivers can make an appointment on a loved one’s behalf.
If you are an Elder/Senior or have mobility issues, you can use United Way’s 211 Manitoba and Transportation Options Network to help get you to your COVID-19 vaccination appointments! Once you have a confirmed appointment, call 211 to identify available options.
Vaccine Lottery!
All Manitobans aged 12 and up who have received at least one dose of vaccine by August 2 will be eligible for the first draw. All Manitobans aged 12 and up who have received two doses by September 6 will be eligible for the second draw.
For more information, visit the #ProtectMB website.
Vaccine clinics for Indigenous people living in urban centres
The clinics will be located at:
- Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre – Win Gardner Place, 363 MacGregor Ave., Winnipeg. Call 204-599-6551 for Ma Mawi Vaccine Call Centre
- Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre, 180 Higgins Ave., Winnipeg
- Brandon Friendship Centre, 205 College Ave., Brandon
- Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment Centre, 11 Second St. NE, Portage la Prairie
- Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre in Thompson , 4 Nelson Rd., Thompson
Do you need to be tested for COVID-19 in Winnipeg? Visit the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Rapid Testing Centre! Book your appointment by calling 1-888-986-8152. Walk-ins welcome from Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm.
Provincial cases as of June 18, 2021:
New Cases: 189
Total Cases: 55,098 Active Cases: 2,436 Recovered: 51,547
In hospital: 258 (20 out of province)
In ICU: 80 (20 out of province)
First Nation cases as of June 17, 2021:
New Cases: 79 On Reserve: 36 Off Reserve: 43
Total Cases: 16,277 Active Cases: 989 On Reserve: 508 Off Reserve: 481
In hospital: 83 On Reserve: 28 Off Reserve: 55 41% of total hospitalizations
ICU Patients: 39 On Reserve: 9 Off Reserve: 30 42% of total ICU Patients
Total doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered to First Nation people in Manitoba as of June 10, 2021: 102,400
On reserve: 68,301 – 50.3% of on-reserve population immunized with 2 doses
Off-reserve: 34,099
The entire province of Manitoba is at Critical level (red) on the Pandemic Response System.
New additional public health order restrictions will be in effect on Saturday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. until Saturday, June 26, 2021.
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? Interested in meeting our staff and finding out what they do as part of the SCO? Looking for in-depth information and discussion on issues important to the everyday lives of First Nations peoples? We cover all this and more in our community-focused newsletter.
Education
Discover educational and scholarship opportunities! We also compiled a comprehensive resource list to help you search and apply for other financial support options for First Nation post-secondary students, including bursaries, awards, and the Canada Learning Bond. You can also access historical and legal information related to reconciliation, residential schools, and Treaty Rights here.
SCO NEWS
FATHER’S DAY TRIBUTE
This Father’s Day, we connected with Karen Prince from Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
Every late summer when she was a little girl, her dad, “Big John” Desjarlais would take her and siblings out to the bush. What Karen didn’t realize at the time was that her father was hiding her family from the “Indian Agents” who came to the community every year to take children away to residential school.
Karen says they didn’t have much growing up, but she will always remember her father, for giving her the gifts of safety and love.❤️
On behalf of all of us at SCO, miigwetch for sharing with us Karen, and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there with hearts as big as John’s!
Why June 20th?
Since the first sunset, many of Turtle Island’s first inhabitants would celebrate the arrival of the warm weather and promise that comes with summer solstice.
The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest light and thus holds a profound place in First Nation’s ceremonies and collective spirituality. That also means it is an idyllic time to honour and celebrate First Nation people and cultures.
SCO wants to wish all of you a very happy solstice especially in light of the challenges we have all faced this year. May this summer bring safe gatherings, celebrations, and rejuvenation for everyone!
#solstice #IndigenousPeoplesDay #SummerSolstice
Enjoy your day!!
Thank you
Miigetch
𝓒𝓱𝓲 𝓜𝓲𝓰𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱…
NEVER FORGET!
Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. While SCO stands in solidarity with our Black relations to the south of the 49th parallel, we also want to draw attention to the plight of slaves who were brought into this country as well.
Slavery is seldom featured in Canadian history, except to extol the virtues of Canadians who helped runaways escaping the US. Generations of Canadians have grown up with the idea that slavery somehow stopped at the American border.
In fact, colonial families kept slaves in this part of the world for more than two centuries.
On this Juneteenth we also want to remind everyone of the racialized and systemic injustices that continue to afflict Black, First Nation & Indigenous, and People of Colour across Turtle Island on a daily basis!
In Solidarity!
#FirstNations #Juneteenth #IndigenousLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter
✊🏽
In Canada they now have Emancipation Day recognized across Canada. Unfortunately it falls on August 1st which is the Civic holiday. They should have made it a different date
‘;
Happy #FathersDay!
Karen Prince from Brokenhead Ojibway Nation shared a story of how her dad, “Big John”, kept her & her siblings safe from “Indian Agents” who stole kids & forced them to go to residential school.
Miigwetch, Karen for sharing your beautiful story with us. ❤️
Why June 20th?
It’s the #SummerSolstice, the day w/ the longest light and holds a profound place in our First Nation ceremonies & collective spirituality.
An ideal time to honour & celebrate our peoples & cultures 🙌🏽
Wishing you a happy #solstice & #IndigenousPeoplesDay!
NEVER FORGET!
Today, #JuneTeenth2021 we commemorate the end of slavery in the 🇺🇸
Slavery occurred across 🇨🇦 as well for 200+ years! And racialized and systemic injustices continue to afflict #FirstNations & #BIPOC on a daily basis!
#IndigenousLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter
