“Every day in June we will acknowledge the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of our Nations and peoples.” – Grand Chief Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 1, 2025
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — Today the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is launching a month-long campaign as part of celebration National Indigenous History Month. As part of that campaign, and throughout the month of June, SCO will recognize a daily southern First Nation Changemaker on our social media channels.
“This month and our campaign provide the perfect opportunity to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of our peoples,” stated SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “There are so many amazing citizens and stories to highlight from our Nations. I am excited to share them with a wider audience.”
The campaign will take place on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Use the #SCOChangemaker hashtag to find the posts.
On June 21, we will also mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with a hand drum making workshop for First Nations Veterans. Indigenous Peoples Day is a beautiful time to honour our Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Language Keepers, and youth for the important roles they perform within our Nations.
“SCO has always made point of sharing positive stories about our First Nations,” added Grand Chief Daniels. “We have achieved so much when it comes to rebuilding our Nations, and it all starts with the grassroots people and leadership. This month, we will shine the spotlight squarely on them and what they are achieving.”
June marks Indigenous History Month, and it is significant for SCO on several fronts. This month, we will recognize graduates from SCO Nations, we will celebrate Treaty Days and attend pow wows, and we are also launching a weekly, optional Anishinaabemowin language nest for staff. Led by Candice Daniels of the Long Plain First Nation, she will also deliver language teachings through “Word Wednesday,” where we will share a new word in Anishinaabemowin on SCO’s social media channels each week.
Any citizens in Winnipeg who would like to pick up their Treaty payment can come by a Treaty event at the RBC Convention Centre from June 2 to 6, 2025. SCO is hosting a status card clinic at the event, which runs from 11 am to 7 pm each day. SCO is also accepting donations for fire evacuees at the event.
June is also Pride Month, and SCO is also proud to attend Winnipeg Pride on June 1, as well as to support and showcase the first-ever Pride Celebration for the Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation on June 7, 2025. SCO also recognizes Long Plain First Nation for hosting an annual Pride event, also on June 7.
This month will also serve to build momentum towards the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day, on September 30. SCO is announcing it has taken over the organizing duties for Winnipeg’s popular annual Orange Shirt Day Pow Wow, set to take place at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on September 30th.
“There is so much to celebrate and so much to look forward to as both an organization, and as individual Nations,” concluded Grand Chief Daniels. “For the next 30 days and beyond, I call on all of us who share this land, to come together to honour, protect, preserve, promote, and enhance the inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions of First Nations peoples. When we do that, we all succeed in making Manitoba a better place.”
SCO acknowledges the ongoing fires in Manitoba as we enter the month of June. We assert there is no better time for all levels of government, businesses, organizations, and individuals to take steps to learn more about the cultures, languages, and citizens of First Nations across Manitoba and to carry out the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
For those who are interested in reading the Calls to Action, SCO is giving away Calls to Action booklets. Anyone who would like one can pick it up from our office at 1572 Dublin Avenue in Winnipeg, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Please note we close for lunch from 12 to 1 pm.
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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