Grand Chief Jerry Daniels

Southern Focused
Community Driven

Jerry Daniels is Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), representing 34 Anishnaabe and Dakota First Nations in southern Manitoba and more than 87,000 citizens. 

Mr. Daniels was first elected as SCO Grand Chief in 2017. In January 2020, he was acclaimed for a second term, the first time a Grand Chief has run unopposed in SCO’s history.

Grand Chief Daniels is a proud member of Long Plain First Nation, and a proud father to son Angelo Daniels. He was raised by his grandparents, Isabel and Donald Daniels, along with his aunties, uncles, and community members.

Grand Chief Daniels graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.

Under his leadership in 2019, SCO worked with Brandon University to research and document Indigenous contributions to the broader Manitoba economy, demonstrating an impact of $9.3 billion. Collectively, First Nations are one of the key drivers of Manitoba’s economy.

Grand Chief Daniels is focused on improving the quality of life for the Anishnaabe and Dakota Nations, through key initiatives including transforming the way southern First Nations experience health care through health transformation, and designing and building a community care model consistent with the evolution of the children welfare system as envisioned by southern First Nations.

A strong believer that the youth voice must be heard, SCO created a Youth Council under the Grand Chief’s leadership.

In April 2022, Grand Chief Daniels made a historic announcement that SCO would acquire the Hudson’s Bay Company building located in downtown Winnipeg, Treaty One Territory. The Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn Project will transform the iconic heritage building into a space for economic and social reconciliation.

Grand Chief Daniels has served on boards and councils at the local, regional, and national levels. In 2012, Grand Chief Daniels became a key organizer of the Idle No More movement. He is dedicated to serving and empowering SCO First Nations. He advocates for an improved health system for First Nations and the creation of a First Nations-led health authority. He is also a relentless advocate for water infrastructure to create a water authority for our Nations.

Tune In: Fireside Chats with Grand Chief Jerry Daniels

A weekly radio program called “Fireside Chats with Grand Chief Jerry Daniels” launched in January 2024.

Click here to learn more and to listen to past episodes of the program.

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