“An historic opportunity to remind the Crown of their responsibilities”
-Grand Chief Jerry Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2023
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) acknowledges the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty the Queen Consort on May 6, 2023. SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels is in London to remind the Crown of their responsibility to honour the Treaties and prioritize reconciliation.
“The Southern Chiefs’ Organization acknowledges the historic event of the coronation of the King. As representative of 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations in Manitoba, I am in London to remind the monarch of the importance of our Nation-to-Nation relationship with the Crown,” shared SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels.
Grand Chief Daniels is part of a delegation of leaders from Manitoba who is attending the coronation ceremony in England. They attended a special reception and exhibition on May 4, where they met with High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom, His Excellency, the Honourable Ralph E. Goodale. He plans to meet with Crown representatives to discuss the importance of the Treaty relationship.
First Nations have had a longstanding relationship with the Crown. Through the signing of Treaties, sacred and binding agreements of equal partnership between sovereign Nations were established. These Treaties have never been honoured and while Canada continues to economically benefit from these sacred agreements, First Nations are calling for economic reconciliation.
“The coronation will certainly cause a wide range of emotions for First Nation citizens. While there is much room for improvement in the relationship First Nations have with the Crown, I am hopeful his Majesty, King Charles III, will work diligently to nurture ties with our First Nations to support a strong connection that honours the sacred Treaties,” said Grand Chief Daniels. “First Nations citizens have been focused on healing as we recover from the trauma and pain caused by residential schools, day schools, the Sixties Scoop, MMIWG2S+, and the child welfare system. I urge the new King to visit First Nations leaders in Manitoba to further discuss and understand the impacts of the relationship of the Crown on our Nations.”
Canada, the United Kingdom, and other Commonwealth countries will commemorate this historic day through various celebrations.
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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 83,000 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.
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Email: media@scoinc.mb.ca