Latest news with #SouthernChiefs'Organization
Global News
13-06-2025
- General
- Global News
Manitoba communities prepare to return home after wildfires displaced thousands
Two First Nations organizations are teaming up to provide services for northern Manitoba wildfire evacuees, while some affected communities are getting set to return home. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, says it will provide culturally safe supports to hundreds who have fled to Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie and the Winkler and Morden area. Thousands from five northern First Nations have been forced out of their home communities over the last two weeks, with many of them staying in Winnipeg. The organization will oversee the operation of reception centres, distribute supplies and provide on-site safety and security at evacuation centres and hotels in collaboration with local municipalities and emergency services. Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the organization is committed to compassionate, dignified and culturally grounded care. Story continues below advertisement 'Having to meet the need that we are seeing on the ground, I think, has been the highest priority for all of us and being able to do that in a timely way, as well, has been very important to everybody who's going through this situation right now.' Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, including those that have evacuated, has spearheaded support efforts in Winnipeg, but said it needed help to reach evacuees outside the city. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We don't have enough manpower to be able to go to all of these,' Grand Chief Garrison Settee told reporters Friday. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has said some hotel owners are not doing enough to help evacuees. After touring some fire-hit areas Thursday, he said most hotel operators have been great, but some need to open up rooms as there are evacuees still sleeping in cots in emergency shelters. Meanwhile, some communities are preparing to return home this weekend. Residents from Snow Lake, in northwestern Manitoba, have been told the mandatory evacuation order issued a week ago has been lifted. People can begin going home early Saturday, the town said on social media. The post told residents to stock up on groceries and other essential supplies and pack a to-go bag in case fire conditions worsen and they have to evacuate again. Story continues below advertisement Officials in Flin Flon said late Thursday that fire crews are holding the fire line and conditions are stabilizing. Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk said the city has reached out to the Northern Health Region to see about reinstating basic core health care services, one of the conditions that needs to be met before the city's 5,000 residents can return. 'We're hoping to get some answers from them as soon as possible,' she said. About 21,000 people in Manitoba have had to evacuate, including from Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and other areas. There's a fire burning about five kilometres away from Pimicikamak, while the one near Flin Flon is the largest in the province, spanning about 3,000 square kilometres. A smaller fire is burning south of Cranberry Portage, but the community's 600 residents will be allowed to return home starting Saturday.
Hamilton Spectator
13-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Manitoba communities prepare to return home after wildfires displaced thousands
WINNIPEG - Two First Nations organizations are teaming up to provide services for northern Manitoba wildfire evacuees, while some affected communities are getting set to return home. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, says it will provide culturally safe supports to hundreds who have fled to Brandon, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie and the Winkler and Morden area. Thousands from five northern First Nations have been forced out of their home communities over the last two weeks, with many of them staying in Winnipeg. The organization will oversee the operation of reception centres, distribute supplies and provide on-site safety and security at evacuation centres and hotels in collaboration with local municipalities and emergency services. Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the organization is committed to compassionate, dignified and culturally grounded care. 'Having to meet the need that we are seeing on the ground, I think, has been the highest priority for all of us and being able to do that in a timely way, as well, has been very important to everybody who's going through this situation right now.' Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents 26 northern First Nations, including those that have evacuated, has spearheaded support efforts in Winnipeg, but said it needed help to reach evacuees outside the city. 'We don't have enough manpower to be able to go to all of these,' Grand Chief Garrison Settee told reporters Friday. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has said some hotel owners are not doing enough to help evacuees. After touring some fire-hit areas Thursday, he said most hotel operators have been great, but some need to open up rooms as there are evacuees still sleeping in cots in emergency shelters. Meanwhile, some communities are preparing to return home this weekend. Residents from Snow Lake, in northwestern Manitoba, have been told the mandatory evacuation order issued a week ago has been lifted. People can begin going home early Saturday, the town said on social media. The post told residents to stock up on groceries and other essential supplies and pack a to-go bag in case fire conditions worsen and they have to evacuate again. Officials in Flin Flon said late Thursday that fire crews are holding the fire line and conditions are stabilizing. Deputy Mayor Alison Dallas-Funk said the city has reached out to the Northern Health Region to see about reinstating basic core health care services, one of the conditions that needs to be met before the city's 5,000 residents can return. 'We're hoping to get some answers from them as soon as possible,' she said. About 21,000 people in Manitoba have had to evacuate, including from Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation and other areas. There's a fire burning about five kilometres away from Pimicikamak, while the one near Flin Flon is the largest in the province, spanning about 3,000 square kilometres. A smaller fire is burning south of Cranberry Portage, but the community's 600 residents will be allowed to return home starting Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Grand chief, chiefs organization accuse reporter, publication of defamation
The Southern Chiefs' Organization and its grand chief have filed a defamation lawsuit against a reporter and an Indigenous news publication. The suit, filed on behalf of SCO and Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, accuses Trevor Greyeyes and Terra Indigena of defamation over claims that were made in three articles published in March and April. 'The plaintiffs say that the untrue and defamatory statements were made to cause embarrassment and humiliation to them and to generally disparage and cause harm to the plaintiffs' reputation, standing and interests,' the court papers say. The suit alleges written statements made by Greyeyes falsely claim Daniels 'engaged in criminal conduct,' that 'he accepted a bribe or secret commission' … (and) 'he uses his position for personal financial benefit.' The court filing also accuses Greyeyes of making false claims that defamed the Southern Chiefs' Organization in the articles. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Southern Chiefs' Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Southern Chiefs' Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels The articles were published on Terra Indigena's website, where Greyeyes works as a freelancer, as well as on the First Nations Voice website and newsletters, a publication owned and operated by Greyeyes. The court filing alleges Greyeyes first defamed Daniels in an article published in early March. The story refers to the ongoing lawsuit filed by the Southern Chiefs Economic Development Corp. in November 2023 against a private numbered company. It seeks the repayment of a $100,000 deposit related to a deal for the corporation to purchase five parcels of land on Dugald Road, which did not go ahead. Claims made in the court filings were reported by the Free Press and other local media in January. The numbered company, in a countersuit and statement of defence filed in May 2024, accused Daniels of defaulting on a personal loan and then saying he could 'influence the progress' of the $20-million land deal, if the company demanded he repay the personal mortgage loan, which was for a condo purchase. The loan's specific amount wasn't included in the court filings. In a reply filed in August 2024, SCO's development corporation said Daniels had obtained a personal mortgage from a corporation related to the numbered company, but said the grand chief was approached about it first. It denied he had defaulted and said the mortgage was irrelevant to the litigation. The matter remains before the court. In an article in early March, Greyeyes questioned the loan and land deal and claimed a secret commission was involved. The lawsuit claims Greyeyes defamed Daniels by repeating the allegation in two more articles in March and April. In the April story, Greyeyes said a courier had dropped off a letter, written by lawyers representing Daniels, which threatened a defamation lawsuit. He noted he had been barred from SCO media events. On Tuesday, Greyeyes said he hadn't yet received notice of the lawsuit. 'I stand by (the reporting),' Greyeyes, a 60-year-old from Peguis First Nation, told the Free Press. 'I'm an elder and a knowledge keeper. I've been a journalist for over 30 years… I'm not somebody new to this.' He said he plans to raise money to hire a lawyer to defend him in court. He has not yet filed a statement of defence. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. The lawsuit asks the court to grant injunctions barring the defendants from further publishing the alleged defamatory statements and to delete the existing statements. It seeks unspecified damages, interest and court costs. Daniels and the SCO are in charge of the massive redevelopment of the former Bay store downtown. The project was pegged at $130 million in 2022, but has since more than doubled to $310 million, with completion expected in 2028. Daniels made headlines after he was involved in an altercation outside a bar in downtown Ottawa on Dec. 3. He later issued a public apology and said he would seek treatment for alcohol use. Chief Cornell McLean of Lake Manitoba First Nation was acting chief until Daniels was reinstated in January. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
‘We are in the forefront': Manitoba funds Indigenous organizations on Red Dress Day
Manitoba's government is recognizing Red Dress Day by pledging $350,000 to support five local Indigenous organizations. The money comes from a $15-million endowment fund to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people. The fund, launched last year, is intended to help with initiatives like searching for missing people, funeral expenses, and healing opportunities. Families minister Nahanni Fontaine said the province is hoping to see the fund continue to grow, with the goal to hit up to $50 million, which would mean annual returns of around $2 million. 'It's open for every citizen to make a donation, alongside private partnerships,' Fontaine said. 'We are actively engaged in looking at those private donations.' The organizations benefiting from the funding announced Monday represent First Nations, Metis and Inuit populations across Manitoba, and provide direct support to families of missing and murdered. Story continues below advertisement Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the Southern Chiefs' Organization, Giganawenimaanaanig, Infinity Women's Secretariat, and Tunngasugit are each receiving some of the $350,000. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Red Dress Day is a nationwide campaign, usually held May 5, aimed at drawing attention to the disproportionate rate of violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. One advocate says there have been strides made, but further action is still needed. Angie Bruce, the University of Manitoba's vice-president (Indigenous) told 680 CJOB's The Start that 16 per cent of female homicide victims and 11 per cent of missing women are Indigenous, despite the fact that Indigenous people make up only 4 per cent of the Canadian population. Bruce said the topic hits close to home for many Manitobans — herself included. 'It's with us every day. As an Indigenous woman myself, I think about that. I think about my children, I think about my daughter.' Bruce said this province is receiving plenty of attention on this topic, after the lengthy fight over searching a local landfill for the remains of three victims of a now-convicted serial killer. 'Here in Manitoba, in particularly with Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris and Ashley Shingoose, we are in the forefront of that fight. Story continues below advertisement 'We've seen the search the landfill movement, Cambria Harris who really spoke strongly about the need to search the landfill, and then Manitoba, I think, responded to that by electing a government who moved that forward.'
CBC
05-05-2025
- CBC
5 Indigenous-led community groups to distribute $350K from Manitoba MMIWG2S endowment fund
Family members of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people in Manitoba can now access an endowment fund to cover costs associated with a search, court proceedings or healing opportunities, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine says. Five Indigenous-led organizations will distribute $350,000 from the Manitoba MMIWG2S+ healing and empowerment endowment fund to family members of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. The money will help families access "a wide range" of low-barrier and direct support, Fontaine said at a news conference on Monday. The province set up the fund a year ago through an initial $15-million investment, generating $650,000 in just six months, Fontaine said. The community organizations will be given responsibility for distributing two-thirds of the fund's revenue each year. The province will direct the rest to similar organizations. Eligible costs that can be covered by the endowment fund may include search costs, gas, hotel bills, funeral expenses, headstones, food and even tuition, Fontaine said. "I think it's really important for Manitobans to know and to be proud of the fact that we are the only jurisdiction across Canada that has set up a MMIWG2S+ endowment fund to operate in perpetuity for families and communities," Fontaine said at the news conference. "No matter what government is in power, this endowment fund will exist for years to come." Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the Southern Chiefs' Organization and Giganawenimaanaanig — the province's MMIWG2S+ implementation committee — will each receive about $90,000, the province said. The Manitoba Métis Federation's Infinity Women's Secretariat will get around $40,000, and the Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre in Winnipeg will get $25,000. The endowment fund, managed by the Winnipeg Foundation, is currently near $25 million, Fontaine said. The goal is to eventually double that, which could result in upwards of $2 million in revenue generated each year, she said.
