On behalf of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), Grand Chief Jerry Daniels expresses his condolences and prayers to the family, loved ones, and entire community of Skownan First Nation on the passing of former Chief Harvey Nepinak.

A residential school Survivor, Mr. Nepinak served as Chief for his Nation from 1979 to 1983; 1987 to 1999; and again from 2005 to 2010.

Grand Chief Daniels expresses his gratitude for the years of public service provided by former Chief Nepinak. May he rest in peace.

SCO congratulates the Chief and Council of the Little Grand Rapids First Nation, which hosted a grand opening of their new Winnipeg office on April 21. Their new office is located at 919 Notre Dame Avenue. 

Chief Oliver Owen received his headdress during a ceremony at the grand opening event. We congratulate Little Grand Rapids for providing a place where their urban citizens may access resources and support from their home community.  

In Dauphin River First Nation, you can find 84-year-old Mary Stagg, an invaluable keeper of the Anishinaabemowin language. Mary has recently translated two children’s books for the Frontier School Division, and a third book is in the works for this fall. You can even listen to Mary reading Gii-wah-bah mah shigag (I Saw a Skunk) on Youtube. 

Mary’s message to her people, especially children and youth, is to be proud to speak your language, to be proud of your land, and to be proud of your First Nation heritage. We are so proud of Mary, and we honour the enormous gift she is preserving and sharing.

SCO is in the midst of performing critical work on a vital waterway.

With the help of Brokenhead Ojibway fisher John Spence, SCO environment staff have been testing fish and water samples for possible contaminants in the Brokenhead River. The river is part of a waterway system that passes through three SCO communities: Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Sagkeeng Anicinabe First Nation, and Hollow Water First Nation.

A decommissioned rail bridge, which crosses the Brokenhead River, is known to contain creosote-treated timbers. Those timbers are now submerged in the river. Previous water sampling revealed that contaminants from that bridge have entered the water and soil. SCO’s current testing is to determine if those contaminants are also entering the food chain.

We have always had a special relationship with what the land and waters provide—including fish. We commend our staff and local fishers who are devoting their collective efforts to preserving this important food source for our peoples.

Drayson Letandre is a rising young hockey star from the Pinaymootang First Nation. The grade 11 student was recently identified as a prospect and invited to join the prestigious Notre Dame Hounds Under 18 (U-18) hockey program in Saskatchewan.

What makes this story even more remarkable is that Drayson did not play AAA hockey this season, and was not actively seeking to be recruited. He was drafted because of word spreading in hockey circles about his remarkable skill and talent.

We want to wish this talented and exceedingly humble young warrior the very best in everything he chooses to do, both on and off the ice.

SCO would like to understand the vision and interests of community members when it comes to determining how to best create an action plan for implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in a way that reflects the laws and legal traditions of Anishinaabe and Dakota citizens in southern Manitoba.

We invite all SCO member First Nations to fill out our short survey by May 15, 2023. You can also enter a draw to win one of three $100 gift cards on completing the survey!

Fourteen-year-old Sienna Hunter, and her 15-year-old sister Loewen Hunter, are talented multi-sport athletes from the Ebb and Flow First Nation, who will represent us at the upcoming North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in Halifax this summer. Sienna will be part of Team Manitoba’s age 14 and under (14U) basketball squad, while Loewen made the age 16 and under (16U) team.

Ebb and Flow has always had a proud sporting history, and we are delighted to see this dynamic duo keep that tradition alive and well. We wish Sienna, Loewen, and all our athletes on Team Manitoba the best of success in July.

Follow our Facebook page to meet more NAIG athletes in the days and weeks to come.

Are you between the ages of 12 and 30 with experience in the child welfare system? Fill out our online survey! 

SCO wants to hear from YOU to know how we can best support youth just like you who are aging out of the CFS system. Your responses will remain anonymous. 

As a thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, SCO citizens will receive a $20 gift card! Find the survey here. The survey closes on May 17, 2023. 

SCO is proud to announce that the Health Transformation Team has officially started their Anti-Racism Strategy, designed to work with First Nations within what is now southern Manitoba. 

Health Transformation went to the Elders/Knowledge Keepers Committee, and it was agreed that a pipe ceremony would be the best way to start this initiative. Grandfather Wanbdi Wakita of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, along with staff from SCO Health Transformation, gathered for the ceremony. HT was gifted the colours red, blue, and yellow to help guide our way and keep us grounded. 

The purpose of the Anti-Racism Strategy is to gather stories, experiences, and feedback that community members would like to share about issues they may have faced when dealing with the health care system. There has been a growing concern of the health inequities, disparities, and continuous acts of racism in health care that occur among First Nations people throughout Manitoba. 

The following people have been hired to work on this important initiative: 

• Tara Myran, Long Plain and Swan Lake First Nations, Senior Program Manager
• Cheryl Fontaine, Sagkeeng First Nation, Community Engagement Lead 
• Barbara Esau, Long Plain First Nation, Community Engagement Language Specialist 

The first community engagement session took place in Dakota Tipi First Nation on April 25, 2023, where community members came out to hear about this program and were given the opportunity, if they wanted, to register to have our staff come out to record their stories. 

The Health Transformation Team is looking forward to implementing this strategy and working towards creating an anti-racism office for all of SCO’s southern First Nations.

May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Gender-Diverse peoples (MMIWG2S+), also known as Red Dress Day. 

Tomorrow, on Friday, May 5, you are invited to a Red Dress Round Dance at 12 noon at Portage and Main in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After the dance, there will be a Memorial Walk from Portage and Main to the Forks.

Join us on Red Dress Day to call for justice on the issue of MMIWG2S+, to honour our loved ones, and to make space for those impacted by this tragedy to reclaim their power. All are welcome. Wear red and bring your drums!

This event is organized by Gigaanaawenimaanaanig (the MMIWG2S+ Implementation Committee), and SCO is a founding member. Join their event page on Facebook for updates. 

Registration is now open for the Economic Reconciliation Business Forum! 

The forum, hosted by SCO and the Southern Chiefs Economic Development LP, will take place on June 13 and 14, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Leadership from SCO member First Nations, along with entrepreneurs and business industry professionals, are encouraged to attend!

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit our website to register or for more information on this forum. 

You are invited to attend the Southern Chiefs’ Organization’s (SCO) 6th Annual Golf Tournament on August 17!  The tournament takes place at the Kingswood Golf and Country Club in La Salle, Manitoba.

Have fun while supporting First Nations education: All profits raised during our golf tournament go towards scholarships and bursaries for First Nations students in southern Manitoba, making post-secondary education more accessible to the people in our communities.  

Visit our website for more information. 

SCO is hiring for two positions:

• 60s Scoop and Child Welfare System Survivors’ Liaison: Apply by May 8, 2023
• Youth Project Lead: Apply by May 10, 2023

We are seeking a compassionate person to join our Survivors’ Healing Program. As the 60s Scoop and Child Welfare System Survivors Liaison, you will help Anishinaabe  and Dakota citizens on their healing journeys by providing trauma-informed support and creating Survivor-focused activities and resources. 

We are seeking a highly motivated person to join our team as our Youth Project Lead. In this position, you will provide direction and guidance and engage with Dakota and Anishinaabe youth, including the SCO Youth Chiefs’ and Youth Council. 

For more information and to apply, please visit SCO Careers.

If you have any story ideas or items you would like shared in future monthly updates, please contact the SCO communications team: media@scoinc.mb.ca