FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 13, 2021
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — On July 30th, 2021, The Southern Chief’s Organization (SCO) held a special ceremony as part of a visit to Waywayseecappo First Nation with Chief Murray Clearsky along with Waywayseecapo citizens. The purpose of the visit and ceremony was to acknowledge a past wrong.
SCO has determined that the removal of Chief Clearsky from the position of SCO Grand Chief back in 2013, was done in haste and needed more careful consideration.
At an SCO Chief’s Executive Committee (CEC) meeting in April of this year, Chief Clearsky was given the opportunity to explain the circumstances that led to his dismissal. After careful consideration, the CEC determined there had been a misunderstanding and that steps should be taken to rectify the matter and to clear Chief Clearsky’s name.
Chief Clearsky has been a committed First Nation leader for over two decades and has done a great deal of work over that time to advance the interests and protect the rights of his community and Anishinaabe people. Chief Clearsky is a proud father, a strong advocate for his people, and a skilled horseman, with a depth of experience and knowledge that can and will be shared with future generations.
Grand Chief Daniels, the CEC and SCO look forward to continuing to work with Chief Clearsky and wish him, his family, and Waywayseecappo the very best, as we move forward together in unity.
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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 80,000 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.