The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is proud to announce its project to transform the iconic Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) heritage building in downtown Winnipeg. Working closely with HBC and our federal, provincial, and municipal Treaty partners, SCO has developed a visionary plan that will turn the building into a space for economic and social reconciliation.
The multi-million dollar project will create social and economic opportunity, revitalizing the HBC building while preserving its important heritage and helping to revive Winnipeg’s downtown core.
Read more about the SCO HBC Building Project here.
SCO invites you to visit our “Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator” exhibition at the Manitoba Museum.
The exhibition celebrates the beauty and resilience of the Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples, and commemorates SCO’s 25th anniversary. Featuring objects from the 34 Nations represented by SCO, “Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift from the Creator” is a celebration of the past, present, and future.
The museum provides free entry for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people.
Grand Chief Jerry Daniels is pleased to invite you to our 25th Anniversary Gala taking place on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the RBC Convention Centre on Treaty One Territory in Winnipeg. We look forward to sharing our special evening and historic milestone with you, enjoying wonderful entertainment and a delicious four-course dinner prepared by the RBC Convention Centre’s Executive Chef.
More information and how to get your ticket, visit our event page!
Grand Chief Jerry Daniels
Jerry Daniels is Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), representing 34 Anishnaabe and Dakota communities in southern Manitoba. In January of 2020, he was acclaimed for a second term, the first time a Grand Chief has run unopposed in SCO’s history.
SCO represents 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in what is now southern Manitoba. Browse our news archive and stay up-to-date on coverage of our work to protect, preserve, promote, and enhance the lives and rights of First Nations peoples.
Want news and updates from our communities? Looking for in-depth information and discussion on issues important to the lives of First Nation peoples? Interested in meeting our staff and finding out what they do as part of SCO? We cover all this and more in our community-focused newsletter.
The safety and well-being of citizens is a top priority for Chief David Meeches and his Council members on the Long Plain First Nation.
With that in mind, the Nation’s First Nation Safety Officer Program is reaching new heights.
Recently, 15 officers—including Kelly Merrick and Christian Assiniboine—completed training to better assist Long Plain’s First Nation Police.
The Safety Officers can now issue tickets under the Manitoba Traffic Act.
They can also play a more supportive and active role at crime scenes, giving the police force more time and flexibility to conduct investigations.
The Safety Officers are now stationed at most public facilities in Long Plain, and they are a welcome sight for those wanting to see a safer and healthier community.
It doesn’t stop there!
Chief and Council have arranged for five new recruits to receive training at the Waywayseecappo First Nation at the end of April.
It cannot be overstated how important these individuals are when it comes to ensuring the safety and security for their Nation.
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization commends Chief Meeches and his Council for investing in this vital initiative for Long Plain.
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is seeking a visual artist from an SCO member Nation to honour Survivors and those impacted by residential schools, day schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the national emergency of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two spirit, and gender-diverse (MMIWG2S+) people.
The artist will be commissioned to create a mural to be displayed as part of SCO’s Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, or ‘it is visible’ project, in the former Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Winnipeg.
The “Remembering Together” mural will serve as a visible commemoration of the impacts of residential schools, day schools, the Sixties Scoop, and MMIWG2S+, while also celebrating resilience in spite of the devastating and ongoing impacts of colonization.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BROKENHEAD OJIBWAY NATION CHIEF AND COUNCIL
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) extends our congratulations to the new Council of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation on being elected to serve their Nation.
Congratulations to returning Councillors Allen Hocaluk, Christopher Kent, Wendell Ogimaa Sinclair Jr., and newly-elected Councillor Winston Desjarlais.
We also congratulate Chief Gordon Bluesky on his acclamation on March 14, 2024. Chief Bluesky’s acclamation speaks to the significance of his leadership abilities and dedication to serving his people.
SCO wishes Chief Bluesky and Councillors all the best as they serve and advocate for their Nation.
Tune in to Friday’s episode of Fireside Chats with Grand Chief Jerry Daniels for an engaging and informative conversation with two First Nations citizens who are making a positive impact on the world: Amanda McLeod and Justin Woodcock.
Amanda is an inspirational curator and conservator from the Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation.
Justin is a proud First Nation Veteran from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation with eight years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces. He is now the First Nations Veterans Program Coordinator at the Southern Chiefs’ Organization’s (SCO).
Learn more about “Manidoo Miiniigooizowin, A Gift From the Creator” exhibition, on now at the Manitoba Museum. SCO has launched this special exhibition as part of our 25th anniversary celebration.
In the second half of the show, you will hear more about our First Nations Veterans.
You don’t want to miss this!
The program will air at 5:30 pm Central Time on NCI FM. People in the Winnipeg area can listen to NCI at 105.5 FM.
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) created our Mobile Crisis Response Team to help support our member Nations and citizens through crises and healing.
The team is made up of qualified Anishinaabe, Dakota, and other professionals trained in culturally appropriate trauma-informed practices.
Chiefs, Councillors, health directors, and anyone with concerns about a person or family experiencing a crisis may contact the Mobile Crisis Response Team to request support.
We offer prevention, crisis response, intervention, and case coordination services. Our team even offers workshops and training on topics such as grief and loss, suicide prevention, bullying, burnout, and more.
Contact the Mobile Crisis Response Team: Phone: 1-877-SCO-2880 (1-877-726-2880) Email: CrisisResponse@scoinc.mb.ca
If you are experiencing a life-threatening crisis, please contact your local emergency services (911) or RCMP detachment. The SCO MCRT was created at the request of Chiefs and communities…