“This compensation represents a step towards justice for those who suffered at the hands of the child welfare system. We encourage all eligible First Nation citizens to apply.” – SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2025
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is encouraging First Nation citizens who were removed from their homes as children between April 1, 1991, and March 31, 2022, to apply for compensation.
SCO also encourages caregivers of children who were removed from their care to receive compensation under the settlement. Caregivers can include the caregiving parents and caregiving grandparents of a removed child who were living with, and assumed parental responsibilities, over the child at the time of removal.
Those affected may be eligible for financial payments through the Removed Child and Removed Child Family classes.
Starting March 10, 2025, eligible individuals can begin submitting claims for compensation. Detailed instructions on how to apply are available on the official website here.
To apply for compensation, claimants will need to submit the following:
– A government-issued identification
– A current mailing address
– A bank account in the claimant’s name
SCO’s Status Card Program can help ensure that citizens have the proper government-issued identification to meet the eligibility requirements of the claim. First Nations can find information on how to access our Status Card Program here.
“To support First Nations on the road to healing and reconciliation, we want to make sure that eligible citizens can successfully apply for the compensation they deserve,” said SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “This compensation represents a step towards justice for those who suffered at the hands of the child welfare system. We encourage all eligible First Nation citizens to apply.”
It is important to note that the application process, claim guidance, and resources are completely free of charge. No one is required to hire a legal representative to assist with the application process.
“This is a momentous step forward in the pursuit of justice and reconciliation for those who have been harmed by the child welfare system,” said Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean and Chair of the SCO Chiefs Standing Committee on Child Welfare. “We must continue addressing the deep-rooted harm caused by decades of colonial policies and systemic racism that exists within the child welfare system.”
For more information or questions, contact the administrator free of charge , or online; by phone at 1-833-852-0755 (from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 7 pm Central Time, excluding statutory holidays); or by email: Generalinfo@Contact.FNChildClaims.ca
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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