“We have waited long enough for the required steps to be implemented to finally address this national emergency.” – Grand Chief Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2025
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — On the sixth anniversary of the release of Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), which includes 231 Calls for Justice, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is once again calling for immediate action to finally end the national emergency of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two spirit, and gender-diverse people (MMIWG2S+).
“Six years is a long time for progress to happen for the Calls for Justice. We cannot delay implementation of the Calls for Justice any further,” stated Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “On behalf of the Chiefs of southern Manitoba and the Nations we represent, I call on all levels of government to work with us on an urgent basis to address the ongoing violence perpetuated against our relations.”
The need for immediate action is being accentuated this year with the forced displacement of our northern relations to urban centres due to the current wildfire situation in Manitoba. Women, girls, two spirit, gender-diverse people, and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of evacuations due to separation from family and community, emotional distress, and exposure to potentially predatory and dangerous situations.
“Being forced to leave home in a relatively short period of time can result in placing our relations in a potentially vulnerable state,” added SCO Youth Chief Lacy Bird. “The anniversary of the final report should serve as a reminder during this difficult time, that our emergency preparedness plans need to consider our people who are vulnerable. It is essential to ensure our citizens have access to information, accessible services and resources, and safe transportation and shelter options.”
In 2019, the National Inquiry into MMIWG concluded the violence perpetuated against Indigenous women in Canada amounted to genocide. In 2021, a National Action Plan was released, and in January of 2023 the federal government hosted a National Roundtable, followed by a second National Roundtable earlier this year, which brought together provincial and territorial leaders as well as Indigenous leadership, to focus on the issue.
Earlier this year, before the federal election, the department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs launched a new online tool to help track progress on the Call for Justice. That online reporting tool states that as of June 2024, the federal government had begun work on 115 of the calls for justice. A further 105 are “pending action.”
“While I am pleased whenever there is progress it continues to be painfully slow when it comes to finally implementing the 231 Calls for Justice,” shared Grand Chief Daniels. “Six years on and far too many of those recommendations remain unfulfilled. Until we see meaningful political will at all levels, the violence will just continue. Our families and loved ones deserve so much better.”
SCO is a founding member of Giganawenimaanaanig (the Manitoba MMIWG2S+ Implementation Committee), a coalition of Indigenous leaders and organizations that have come together to advocate and implement the Calls for Justice. Giganawenimaanaanig has been carrying out engagement sessions and is hosting a survey to develop a Red Dress Alert in Manitoba.
SCO is offering free booklets for anyone who would like to read the 231 Calls for Justice. These booklets are available for pick up at our office at 1572 Dublin Avenue from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. (Please note our office closes for lunch from 12 to 1 pm.) SCO also has a list of resources available for anyone who is looking to learn more about the national emergency of MMIWG2S+.
If anyone requires immediate emotional support, please call the national, independent toll free 24/7 support line 1-844-413-6649 to speak to a counsellor. This service is available in English, Anishnaabemowin, Cree, and French.
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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 32 First Nations and more than 87,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.
For media inquiries:
Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca