Southern Chiefs' Organization invests $1.5M in holistic wellness initiative
Social Sharing
The Southern Chiefs' Organization has launched a holistic health-care initiative that it says will centre on the teachings of the Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations of southern Manitoba.
The Healthy Living campaign will contribute to the health of nearly three dozen nations the organization represents, by promoting the physical wellness of youth through basketball, healthy eating through garden competitions, language classes and a First Nation youth drum group, according to a Monday news release from the SCO.
"The 11-year life-expectancy gap is a trend that's not reversing, it's actually getting worse … we really need to put a lot of focus into our health care," Daniels told reporters later at a news conference on Monday.
"We want to highlight the challenges that we're seeing with diabetes. We want to get our young people moving. We want to get that relationship with our food made a priority — knowledge, our culture, our languages."
About two-thirds of the $1.5 million in funding will back young basketball players participating in the revival of the Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games in Sagkeeng from August 17-23.
E.J. Fontaine, chief of Sagkeeng First Nation, told reporters it will be the first time the Games will be held following a 10-year hiatus, and 4,000 athletes, spectators, parents and officials are expected to attend.
"We put together a bid and we proposed to the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Centre to revive the Games, and we were successful in securing the bid along with Norway House," Fontaine said. "It's very important that we're having the Games revived in our communities because we have to give our kids an alternative path to living."
Fontaine says the Games are the physical health part of the four-directions teachings given to him as a young man by an elder: healthy body, healthy soul, healthy mind and healthy spirit.
"I followed that, and when I was 22 years old, I was able to change my life around from being addicted to drugs and alcohol. And I'm really happy that I followed the advice of the elder," Fontaine said.
"It's only through sports and recreation that we're going to steer our kids, our youth, in the right path, away from some of the drug problems we have in our community."
Another $100,000 of funding will go to support summer basketball camps for youth in the 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations that SCO represents.
Themes of wellness
The health campaign focuses on seven themes of wellness as medicine: food, water, movement, community, land, knowledge and culture.
As part of the cultural prong of health, a youth drum group will receive $100,000 to aid in the dissemination of songs and dances to young people, with $300,000 put toward language classes in several SCO communities.
Food and the relationship to food will be encouraged through a garden competitions, Daniels says, as a way to spotlight the work already being done in First Nations communities.
"We've really wanted to promote healthy eating and the relationship with our food … we want to really push for gardening within the schools … change our eating behaviours and really highlight that among our young people," Daniels said.
Willie Moore, the Assembly of First Nations regional chief representing Manitoba, says children in the province have the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes in the world, with 85 per cent being Indigenous.
Moore says it's been 20 years since the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, a Health Canada program, last saw a funding increase.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Firefighting help arrives from Quebec, more coming from U.S.; evacuees should expect to be away for weeks, Flin Flon mayor says
More than 150 firefighters from Quebec and the U.S. are joining the battle against massive wildfires raging in northern Manitoba, while some evacuees were warned they could be displaced for weeks. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said 99 firefighters from the U.S. were being sent to Manitoba. Quebec's Forest Fire Protection Society said 60 wildland firefighters travelled to Manitoba Tuesday for a 14-day mission. Crews from the U.S. are expected to arrive this week, a Manitoba government spokesperson said. 'We place crews where and when they are needed, so those decisions will be made in real time,' the spokesperson wrote in an email. Local fire departments from across Manitoba have sent teams to the North to help protect areas such as Flin Flon. The City of Flin Flon said up to 250 personnel are fighting a fire that is on the community's doorstep. No structural losses have been reported so far. 'They're fighting fires right on the edge of town,' Mayor George Fontaine said. 'They're right in the thick of it. It's a very tight situation. It hasn't changed, and it will be for some time.' A mandatory evacuation of Flin Flon, home to about 5,000 people, was ordered May 28. Residents were told Wednesday to prepare for the possibility that it will be some time until it is safe for them to return. 'Weeks is a minimum,' said Fontaine, who is among the evacuees staying in Winnipeg. 'Please stay calm. Stay as comfortable as you can because you're going to be out of your community for a while.' Flin Flon's airport, which was evacuated, is still being used by emergency aircraft. Two fires are burning near Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Cross Lake. In a Facebook post, Pimicikamak Chief David Monias said one of the fires continues to jump from island to island. A Chinook helicopter has been dropping water on that fire, he said. A Canadian Armed Forces CC-130 Hercules picked up the area's final group of evacuees at Cross Lake's airport Tuesday and transported them to Winnipeg, Monias said. He said several people have chosen to remain behind despite a mandatory evacuation order. The Manitoba government has said about 17,000 people will be displaced by wildfires in the province. Many are staying with family or friends, or in hotels or shelters in places such as Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, The Pas and Thompson. The province said more than 14,300 people from more than 5,400 households had registered with the Canadian Red Cross as of Monday. Evacuees who haven't registered yet are encouraged to do so. The CAF said it has moved more than 3,800 people on evacuation flights since May 29. In addition to Cross Lake, a Hercules plane collected evacuees who had previously made their way to Norway House on Tuesday. CH-146 Griffon helicopters flew evacuees from Mathias Colomb First Nation (Pukatawagan) to The Pas. Chris KitchingReporter Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris. Every piece of reporting Chris 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.
CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
Norway House evacuates personal care home due to wildfire smoke, deteriorating air quality
Social Sharing Norway House Cree Nation moved residents of a personal care home in the community south Tuesday, as smoke from nearby wildfires continues to blow in and air quality deteriorates. More than a dozen elders who live at the Pinaow Wachi personal care home in Norway House were evacuated to a facility in Winnipeg, about 460 kilometres to the south, that's also owned by the First Nation. The elders who left the community were accompanied by their caretakers on a Canadian Armed Forces C-130 Hercules aircraft. "There's unpredictable things happening in and around Norway House," Chief Larson Anderson told CBC News Tuesday afternoon. "We're not in danger of fires — just it's the smoke that's really more of an issue." Norway House isn't under evacuation order, but is under an evacuation notice, with people ordered to be ready to leave. The care home was evacuated "to be on the safe side," said Anderson. The community has been doing voluntary evacuations since last week, allowing elders, young children and some adults to get relief from the smoke, he said. Around 150 voluntary evacuees have been moved out of the community so far, Anderson said. Evacuation continues for Pimicikamak residents Norway House is also the temporary home for many residents of Pimicikamak Cree Nation — also known as Cross Lake — who were given a mandatory evacuation order to leave their homes on May 28. Some from Pimicikamak — about 70 kilometres north of Norway House — were flown out of the community at that point, but high winds and smoke grounded flights. The remaining 6,500 residents were told to head to Norway House, even though the community was only expecting 1,000 people. The Canadian Armed Forces said Tuesday it has evacuated more than 3,500 people from fire zones in the province, with work in the past 24 hours taking people from Pimicikamak to Winnipeg and from Pukatawagan, in northwestern Manitoba, to The Pas. The federal government and the Canadian Armed Forces continue evacuation efforts for Pimicikamak and the community of Cross Lake, with multiple agencies participating in the response, along with community members and the local fire department, the province said in its Tuesday fire bulletin. The out-of-control fire near Pimicikamak Cree Nation is about five kilometres away from the community and about 2,300 hectares in size, the bulletin said. Manitoba's wildfire service is currently fighting 27 active wildfires across the province, and has seen 111 wildfires to date — well above the average of 88 for this time of year. WATCH | Manitoba premier praises wildfire response: 'We have each other': Premier Wab Kinew praises Manitobans amid wildfire crisis 2 hours ago Duration 8:13 Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew speaks with CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault about the province's response to the wildfire crisis, including the call for more firefighting equipment, the need for more accommodations for evacuees and the sacrifices made by people across the province. Samantha Folster, Cross Lake's co-ordinator for the Norway House evacuation, estimated 100 people from the community who went to Norway House have chosen to stay there. For the time being, no further planes will come to take Pimicikamak residents to Winnipeg, she said. "We've given them the opportunity to come to the airport, we've called them, I've used social media to attract them to come," said Folster. "Some of them stayed behind. They have a lot of close family here, so they've decided to stay in the community for whatever length that they feel they can stay," she said. "Hopefully we don't receive an evacuation [order]." Norway House watching fire situation Meanwhile, the smoke in Norway House has been causing low visibility, so much so that Norway House resident Dean Robertson had trouble even seeing the trees across from his house. "There's been some ash falling since last night a little bit, and I went to look at my vehicle — it kind of had a little bit of soot covering on it," he said. Robertson said with the community on an evacuation notice, he's been getting essentials like clothing ready to go and has made sure to fill his car with gas. Chief Anderson said Norway House has created large fire breaks as well, in case a blaze comes near the community. Sprinklers and water hoses have been set up on buildings too. "It will buy us time … if the fire ever gets to that point," he said.
Global News
6 days ago
- Global News
Alberta wildfire evacuees seek mental, emotional supports in Edmonton
As thousands of Albertans remain out of their homes due to nearby wildfire risks, leaders from a northern First Nation are asking Edmontonians for help in easing their people's anxieties and feeling more at home while away from their own. The Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council is comprised of Loon River First Nation – #476, Lubicon Lake Band – #453, Peerless Trout First Nation – #478, Whitefish Lake First Nation – #459 and Woodland Cree First Nation – #474. The communities are in a remote area of northern Alberta, geographically about halfway between Peace River and Fort McMurray. Hundreds of residents, specifically from the Peerless Trout and Loon River communities, were forced to flee overnight last Wednesday, when the Red Earth East Complex wildfires flared up and threatened the communities. More than 1,400 people were evacuated and are now staying in hotels and temporary accommodations throughout the Edmonton area. Story continues below advertisement 1:43 Alberta continues to cope with dangerous wildfires Richard Yellowknee is from Trout Lake and now staying at a hotel in Edmonton after being ordered to evacuate in the middle of the night. 'It was pretty hard because we had to move out of there at 3 o'clock in the morning,' he said on Tuesday, adding while their basic needs are being taken care of, it's difficult to be away from home, not knowing what they will return to. Yellowknee said his family is filling their days visiting relatives in the Edmonton area, but could use more distractions. 'We need more activities to do, something to do during the day.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We need more activities to do, something to do during the day." The tribal council said while basic needs such as food and shelter are being addressed, there is an immediate need to support the emotional, mental, and social well-being of its community members who have fled south to Edmonton. Story continues below advertisement 'In times like these, even small gestures can have profound meaning. Thank you for considering this opportunity to stand with our families during a time of great need.' To help make the evacuees feel more comfortable and take their minds off the uncertainty awaiting them back home, the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council said on Monday it is seeking community-minded corporate and organizational partners to help provide: 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 Sponsored recreational, cultural, or social activities for children, youth, and Elders (for example, Oilers watch nights, family movie outings, crafts, cultural programming, or community meals) Donated venue space or facility use to host events and gatherings Gift cards or financial support to help families meet incidental needs In-kind donations, such as hygiene kits, games, books, comfort items, or supplies for children and seniors 1:43 Shifting winds 'dramatically' impacting Alberta wildfire fight Alberta wildfires update As of publishing on Tuesday afternoon, there were 56 fires burning across the province, and 27 were out of control. Story continues below advertisement The province said after a week of extreme wildfire behavior that included multiple blazes and evacuations, Alberta is now seeing slightly improved conditions. Cooler conditions and high humidity are aiding firefighters, the government said in an update. More than 1,000 Alberta firefighters, contract firefighters and imported firefighters are currently battling wildfires across the province. Aid has also arrived from B.C., Yukon, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Washington State, Oregon and Idaho. There are nine wildfires of note in the Forest Protection Area, which is the northern Boreal forest and western foothills regions Alberta Wildfire monitors and leads firefighting efforts in. The Red Earth East Complex is made up of 10 numerous out-of-control wildfires north of Slave Lake and east of highway 88, and include: SWF085 near Chipewyan Lakes, which is currently 132,167 ha; SWF092 near Red Earth Creek and Loon Lake First Nation, which is currently 39,744 ha; SWF094, which is approximately 73,752 ha SWF095 near the Peerless Lake community, which is currently 697 ha. View image in full screen The SWF095 wildfire near the Peerless Lake community, which is part of the Red Earth East Complex, on June 2, 2025. Credit: Alberta Wildfire Because of the Red Earth East Complex fires, evacuation orders remain in effect for Chipewyan Lake, Peerless Lake, Trout Lake, Red Earth Creek and Loon River First Nation. Story continues below advertisement Alberta Wildfire said the fires in that region saw increased fire behaviour Tuesday morning. 'Crews are working on containment lines around these wildfires and bucketing operations from the air,' the province said. 1:50 More than 50 wildfires raging out of control in northern Alberta Emergency evacuation payment eligibility The Alberta government provides a one-time emergency evacuation payment to residents who had to leave their communities for seven or more days due to mandatory evacuation orders. Eligible adults receive $1,250 and $500 for each dependent child under the age of 18. Evacuees are encouraged to apply for emergency payments online. They can also call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 or by visiting an Alberta Supports office for assistance. Story continues below advertisement Poor air quality due to smoke Much of northern Alberta is under an air quality advisory due to the wildfire smoke. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued alerts for an area that stretched from the Edmonton region all the way to the province's boundary with the Northwest Territories. Environment Canada meteorologists said the smoke is not only causing very poor air quality but also reduced visibility, and it changes hour by hour. People in affected areas are reminded to limit their time outdoors and keep windows and doors closed. Conditions were expected to improve by Wednesday. 3:10 Wildfire smoke impact on temperature How to donate aid The Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council said if any organizations that are in a position to assist their people — through sponsorship, in-kind donations, or co-hosting activities — their support would be both impactful and deeply appreciated. Story continues below advertisement The community said charitable tax receipts can be provided for financial contributions. Donors were asked to call to email business development director Trevor Thera ( or 780-264-6709) or reach out to Sheena Phillips ( or 780-625-5222.)
