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It’s amazing to think that we are coming to the conclusion of another journey around the sun. Whether it’s the Winter Solstice, Christmas or other celebrations, December brings with it the promise of family gatherings, celebrations and reflection. No matter how you may spend this month, here at SCO we wish you and those you love a safe and blessed holiday season, and the very best for 2022.
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Health Care Summit
The Keeshkeemaquak Conference Centre on Long Plain First Nation’s urban reserve was the site of a special Chiefs’ Summit on health transformation.
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This was an important opportunity for the Chiefs of southern Manitoba to receive an update on the development and implementation of a First Nations-governed health system. Along with staff from SCO’s Health Transformation team, participants heard from a number of key speakers focused on building a new Dakota and Anishinaabe healthcare system that involves our communities, First Nation partners and non-Indigenous governments.
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Speaking of non-Indigenous governments, we would like to acknowledge and thank Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon for attending the summit on day one.
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We also want to express gratitude to Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere for spending the morning of day two with us to learn more about the health transformation process.
Given the strained relationship First Nations had experienced under Brian Pallister’s administration, it was refreshing to have these two members of cabinet in our presence.
Going forward, the Chiefs in Summit have directed the Chiefs’ Health Action Table (CHAT) to develop an action plan for the implementation of an Agreement in Principle and a Framework with a target date of fall 2022.
This is some of the most vital work taking place at SCO, and we want to give special mention to CHAT Chair Chief Derek Cook of Bloodvein First Nation.
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We also want to recognize Harmony Redsky, our Director of Health Transformation and her team.
Thank you to everyone who put an incredible amount of work into this file and the health summit.
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Under their guidance, we are confident that we will develop a health system in southern Manitoba by First Nations, for First Nations.
Finally, we thank our host Chief Dennis Meeches and the community of Long Plain First Nation for hosting this event and for their incredible hospitality.
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Honouring and Remembering
As part of the Health Transformation summit, the Southern Chiefs of Manitoba also took a moment to acknowledge a very special group of people.
A ceremony was held on the first day to honour members of the Indigenous Veterans Association of Manitoba.
Along with a Grand Entry and Honour song, each attending veteran was presented with a gift and verbal acknowledgement.
Breaking away from our agenda for this special ceremony was the very least we could do to thank them for their service, sacrifice and bravery.
It also follows our tribute to those who served as part of our Indigenous Veterans Wall of Fame. To meet some incredible southern First Nation veterans visit our Veterans Wall of Honour on our website.
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Future Leader
From our beloved veterans to an up-and-coming shining star.
We are delighted to share with you that a student from Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation has been selected as the first Indigenous female recipient of the Bangabandhu Peace Philosophy and World Peace Scholarship.
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Grand Chief Jerry Daniels and His Excellency Dr. Khalilur Rahman, the Honourable High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Canada, presented the letter of scholarship to Aluk Fontaine Richardson .
The scholarship was made possible by the Honourable Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and the award will support travel and accommodation.
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Fontaine Richardson is an Anishinaabe, Cree and Mi’kmaq woman, and a proud member of Sagkeeng First Nation. She is a recent political science graduate from the University of Winnipeg, where she was the recipient of the Gold Medal for Achievement in a Major. Fontaine Richardson currently works as a junior research analyst for Apoqon Consulting, a boutique Indigenous consultancy firm, and serves as the co-director for Realize Radicalization, a student-led counter-extremism organization that aims to raise public awareness about radicalization.
Beyond her work, we certainly wish her well in what promises to be an exciting future.
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Honouring an Honourable Man
Ms. Fontaine Richardson’s home community was the site for a beautiful tribute to Nitamabit – The Original Way and One Who Sits in Front or Nii Gaani Aki Inini – Leading Earth Man.
Last month, the National Turtle Lodge Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers held an extraordinary event for an extraordinary human being. People from across Turtle Island made their way to Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation to honour Elder Dr. Dave Courchene.
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Dave’s dedication and service to Mother Earth alone is worthy of recognition. Perhaps even more profound are his teachings, which have inspired people around the globe.
Now Dave and the rest of the Council are sharing his vision of creating a new Turtle Lodge at the Sacred Site of Manitou Api, located at the geographical heart and centre of Turtle Island.
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Dave and the Council believe it holds the key reconnection point to Mother Earth and true healing for all.
To learn more about how you can support this incredible project, visit www.turtlelodge.org.
More importantly, we ask that you keep Dave, his family and all members of the Turtle Lodge in your thoughts and prayers.
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November Elections
November was a very busy month when it came to local elections in our communities.
In Pinaymootang, Kurvis Anderson was elected Chief, along with a number of new Councillors.
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Just down the road in Dauphin River, Lawrence Letandre was elected as the community’s new Chief.
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Out west at Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve, Chief Barry McKay was given another mandate.
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Finally, a new Chief was chosen by the voters in O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation. Congratulations to Chief Kerwin Chaboyer and his newly elected Council members.
SCO would also like to thank all former Chiefs and Council members from our communities for their service and dedication to our peoples.
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Budding Business
One current leader has tapped into what he hopes will be a steady source of revenue for his community.
Something very special is in the works at the former site of Wasenikan Manufacturing in Black River First Nation. Wasenikan is the Ojibway word for window, and the building was once used to make high-end windows.
Now thanks to the leadership of Chief Sheldon Kent, the dormant structure is coming back to life, in the form of a cannabis production centre.
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Black River has even signed an agreement to supply Delta 9 Cannabis stores with their finished product. This is a wonderful opportunity to create economic growth and good jobs in Black River.
We honour Chief Kent and Council for their foresight and initiative.
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Celebrating Our Entrepreneurs
Staying on the financial front, SCO has created a directory of authenticated southern First Nation owned businesses.
Here you will find the names, links and other information about incredible entrepreneurs who are citizens of our 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations.
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We encourage you to visit and support these on and off-reserve businesses as they create sustainable economic growth! Be sure to keep them in mind for all your holiday gift buying needs.
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New Sagkeeng School
The end of October saw the doors officially open on a project that was three years in the making.
In 2018, Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation broke ground on a new elementary school after the old facility burned down. Jump ahead three years and the community has unveiled its’ sparkling new school.
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Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, and other dignitaries traveled to Sagkeeng to celebrate the grand opening of this beautiful, inviting and inspiring education space.
We join Sagkeeng in celebrating the opening of a new school that focusses on Ojibway language, culture and teachings.
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Congratulations to Chief Derrick Henderson, Director of Education Crissy Courchene and everyone who helped make this incredible place a reality. Initiatives such as this truly point to lasting and positive changes for our children and communities.
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Language Keeper - Language Teacher
Staying on the education front, the children who attend Mahpia Hdega School on Dakota Plains Wahpeton Oyate have the good fortune of learning the Dakota language from Donna Pratt.
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Donna is a Dakota Language Keeper originally from Sioux Valley. Every day, Donna imparts language and culture teachings for all the students. She does it with grace, humour and strength.
Her gifts are invaluable and are only matched by her conviction to keep the Dakota language alive!
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To Donna we say a hearty Pidamiye and Wopida!
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New Faces at SCO!
We continue to add to our growing talent pool of amazing employees here at SCO.
At the helm of our Communications department is Julie DeVoin.
Julie is a Métis woman from Winnipeg who has roots in the historic Métis community of San Clara-Boggy Creek in western Manitoba. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 2002, she embarked on a career in communications that saw her working in a variety of capacities in support of Indigenous Peoples, from advocacy to journalism to broadcasting, and finally as the communications lead for the Aboriginal Health and Human Resources programs at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Now, after gaining a broad range of skills and experience working as the communications lead for a variety of departments within the Province of Manitoba, she looks forward to returning to her roots in the community in her new role as Director of Communications.
We have two new faces in our CFS department.
Norman Lagimodiere is our new Community Engagement Liaison at Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation. Norman was born in Winnipeg, where he lived until he was seven years of age. From there, he went into CFS care and become a ward of the system.
Norman is also a Sixties Scoop survivor, who lived in a non-Indigenous family until he was 18. Norman’s father is from Pine Creek First Nation and his mother hails from Cote First Nation.
He is now a band member at Kinonjeoshtegon, which is his wife’s home community. Norman is a proud father of five and is now incorporating a traditional way of life. He says it’s critical to his healing path.
Annette Meeches is our new Community Engagement Liaison at Long Plain First Nation. The Long Plain citizen has five children and 16 grandchildren, which she says are her pride and joy!
Annette is very excited to be working for her community as part of the SCO team.
Also joining our ranks is Jennifer Wood in the position of Senior Policy Analyst.
Jennifer is a proud Anishinaabe woman originally from the Superior Robinson Treaty area. She comes to SCO from her most recent role as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Province of Manitoba in the Health Promotion and Wellness Branch, which focuses on the areas of school health, health promotion and harm reduction. Before that, she worked for the Healthy Child Manitoba Office and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority as the provincial coordinator for the Communities that Care initiative, working with Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation, Elmwood and Swan River.
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SCO Employment Opportunities
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
If you have any story ideas or items you would like shared in future weekly updates, please contact the SCO Communications team.
Call 204-806-6837 or email media@scoinc.mb.ca
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