“I met with the Prime Minister and senior officials to bring clarity to our main issues: southern First Nations are leading with innovation in health, clean water, and projects like Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn. The federal government must now match our ambition with action.”
– Grand Chief Jerry Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2025
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is strengthening its call for decisive federal action after Grand Chief Jerry Daniels met with Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior officials in Ottawa yesterday. The discussions centred on the urgent need to advance First Nations–led health transformation, secure clean water through a First Nations–owned water authority, and support the continued progress of Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn.
Grand Chief Daniels emphasized that while SCO Nations are driving major Nation-building initiatives, the federal government must take concrete steps to remove barriers and support the tools, technologies, and agreements that will improve the well-being of First Nations citizens.
“I met with the Prime Minister and senior officials to bring clarity to our main issues: southern First Nations are leading with innovation in health, clean water, and projects like Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn. The federal government must now match our ambition with action,” said Grand Chief Jerry Daniels.
“We highlighted the pressing need for improved diagnostic systems and timely access to data to support a First Nations–run health authority, noting that federal delays continue to undermine lifesaving transformation efforts,” shared the Grand Chief. “I further highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in modernizing health diagnostics, improving accuracy, and reducing the staggering 11-year gap in life expectancy for First Nations citizens in comparison to non-First Nations’ Canadians.”
Grand Chief Daniels stressed that SCO Nations are prepared to leverage AI and emerging diagnostic technologies, which present a tangible opportunity for the federal government to act. With Canada preparing to release its next national AI strategy, SCO is urging the federal government to prioritize southern First Nations in the deployment of AI-driven diagnostic tools and health data systems that can enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline services, and identify emerging health trends sooner. SCO is committed to supporting this work so that new technologies meaningfully improve health outcomes for our people while upholding First Nations data sovereignty.
Clean water security remains another urgent priority. Grand Chief Daniels reiterated that SCO and Indigenous Services Canada have already developed a framework for a First Nations–owned water authority—a solution ready for implementation once the federal government provides final approval.
The meeting also spotlighted the Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project; SCO’s transformation of the former Hudson’s Bay Company building in downtown Winnipeg into one of the most ambitious First Nations-led community developments in Canada. With a workforce that is 77 per cent Indigenous, the project stands as a national model for economic reconciliation, cultural resurgence, and community building.
“Our Nations continue to do the work: building solutions, training our people, and strengthening our communities,” added Grand Chief Daniels. “What we need now is a federal partner that moves at the same pace as the challenges our citizens face.”
SCO will continue to advocate for federal decisions that support health transformation, clean water, modern technology, and the full realization of First Nations rights and self-determination.
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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