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Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Eight SCO communities call for non-confidence vote on Grand Chief Jerry Daniels' leadership
An organization representing eight member communities within the Southern Chiefs' Organization is calling for a meeting to hold a non-confidence vote against Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, alleging he breached the association's constitution by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Manitoba Métis Federation last week. The Southeast Resource Development Council — representing Berens River, Black River, Bloodvein, Brokenhead, Hollow Water, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi and Poplar River First Nations — says Daniels failed to consult the executive committee, as required under summit resolutions. 'We are not opposed to the MOU or any other agreements that have been properly vetted through the SCO Chiefs-in-Summit or Chiefs Assembly,' a statement posted to SERDC's website said. 'We are opposed to the continued lack of respect to our SCO Chiefs and the blatant disregard to SCO Constitutional procedure not being followed by our Grand Chief. The SCO was founded on the basis of working together to advance our issues and interests collectively. 'We observe this organization is continuing down a path that is not reflective of the rights holders we represent and must be addressed. It is imperative that this organization gets back on track.' The SCO, which represents 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations and more than 87,000 citizens in southern Manitoba, declined to comment Monday. But a source close to the organization said the SCO is aware of the letter, and SCO's chief executive committee has reached out to the SERDC and requested a formal meeting. The dispute follows last Wednesday's announcement that SCO and MMF would partner on infrastructure and development projects while seeking greater involvement in initiatives led by federal and provincial governments. Daniels and MMF president David Chartrand signed the MOU at The Forks — a traditional gathering place for Indigenous Peoples — with the stated goal of advancing economic reconciliation and protecting Indigenous rights and the environment. 'We are forging a path toward economic independence and sustainability, ensuring the voices of First Nations and Red River Métis are integral to the design, approval and implementation of nation-building projects across this province,' Daniels told reporters. A spokesperson for the MMF said Monday they wouldn't comment on matters internal to SCO. In a letter to Daniels, signed by the eight First Nations' chiefs and posted to SERDC's website Monday, the council called for an immediate Chiefs-in-Summit to put his leadership to a non-confidence vote. 'The SERDC Chiefs had no knowledge of this arrangement, we were not provided a copy and have not seen a copy of this document,' the letter said, referring to the MOU. Daniels, first elected SCO grand chief in 2017 and re-elected to a historic third term in 2024, has faced controversy since late last year, when he was hospitalized following an altercation outside an Ottawa bar on Dec. 3. Multiple sources told the Free Press that Daniels, along with at least one member of a Manitoba First Nation, was involved in the incident. He later apologized, took a leave of absence to seek treatment for alcohol use, and returned to office in January. He is also entangled in a legal dispute over a multimillion-dollar land deal in east Winnipeg. Court filings from November 2023 to August 2024 detail litigation between the Southern Chiefs Economic Development Corp., Daniels and a Manitoba-registered private company. The numbered company, which filed a countersuit, accused Daniels of defaulting on a personal loan and claimed he could 'influence the progress' of the $20-million land deal if repayment was pursued. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott 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
5 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Manitoba Indigenous groups agree to work together on major infrastructure projects
Two Indigenous groups in Manitoba have agreed to work together on major infrastructure and development projects. It comes as the federal government looks to fast-track projects across the country. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in the province, and the Manitoba Métis Federation have signed a five-year agreement. It outlines their shared commitment to ensure First Nations and Red River Métis voices are included in the approval of any project proposed by the Manitoba government and supported by federal legislation. A new federal law gives Ottawa sweeping powers to speed up permits for what it calls 'nation-building projects.' The controversial legislation has faced pushback from Indigenous groups that argue elements of it could be used to undermine their rights. Story continues below advertisement The Southern Chiefs' Organization and the Manitoba Métis Federation say they'll work together to pursue Indigenous-led developments in areas including forestry, harvesting and traditional economies. The Manitoba government is also exploring how it would create and operate a proposed Crown-Indigenous corporation. 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 'This agreement sends a message to all governments, partners and industry that First Nations and the Red River Métis are working together to shape a future that is led by Indigenous nations,' Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs' Organization said Wednesday. 'We are forging a path towards economic independence and sustainability, ensuring the voices of First Nations and Red River Métis are integral to the design, approval and implementation of nation-building projects across this province.' Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the legislation is needed to shore up Canada's economy during the trade war with the United States. Ottawa has also promised to build up northern infrastructure, in part, to meet a NATO military alliance spending target for critical infrastructure. It's unknown which projects could be fast-tracked, but the government has pointed to ports, railways and pipelines. Carney recently met with First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups to discuss how best to build projects in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. Story continues below advertisement The Manitoba Métis Federation turned down Carney's invitation to discuss the legislation, after Ottawa invited another Métis group the federation claims has no reason to exist. Other Métis groups and First Nations say communities represented by the Métis Nation of Ontario have no claim to Métis heritage and that Ottawa and Ontario have no right to recognize them. Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand said the legislation must move forward, as Canada deals with ongoing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. 'There's not a doubt it must arrive, because the danger that Trump imposes on all of us is very scary … this is an economic war, and people should not take it lightly,' he said Wednesday. He added any nation-building projects approved in Manitoba must be done in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in the province.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba Indigenous groups agree to work together on major infrastructure projects
WINNIPEG – Two Indigenous groups in Manitoba have agreed to work together on major infrastructure and development projects. It comes as the federal government looks to fast-track projects across the country. The Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 32 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in the province, and the Manitoba Métis Federation have signed a five-year agreement. It outlines their shared commitment to ensure First Nations and Red River Métis voices are included in the approval of any project proposed by the Manitoba government and supported by federal legislation. A new federal law gives Ottawa sweeping powers to speed up permits for what it calls 'nation-building projects.' The controversial legislation has faced pushback from Indigenous groups that argue elements of it could be used to undermine their rights. The Southern Chiefs' Organization and the Manitoba Métis Federation say they'll work together to pursue Indigenous-led developments in areas including forestry, harvesting and traditional economies. The Manitoba government is also exploring how it would create and operate a proposed Crown-Indigenous corporation. 'This agreement sends a message to all governments, partners and industry that First Nations and the Red River Métis are working together to shape a future that is led by Indigenous nations,' Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs' Organization said Wednesday. 'We are forging a path towards economic independence and sustainability, ensuring the voices of First Nations and Red River Métis are integral to the design, approval and implementation of nation-building projects across this province.' Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the legislation is needed to shore up Canada's economy during the trade war with the United States. Ottawa has also promised to build up northern infrastructure, in part, to meet a NATO military alliance spending target for critical infrastructure. It's unknown which projects could be fast-tracked, but the government has pointed to ports, railways and pipelines. Carney recently met with First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups to discuss how best to build projects in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. The Manitoba Métis Federation turned down Carney's invitation to discuss the legislation, after Ottawa invited another Métis group the federation claims has no reason to exist. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Other Métis groups and First Nations say communities represented by the Métis Nation of Ontario have no claim to Métis heritage and that Ottawa and Ontario have no right to recognize them. Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand said the legislation must move forward, as Canada deals with ongoing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. 'There's not a doubt it must arrive, because the danger that Trump imposes on all of us is very scary … this is an economic war, and people should not take it lightly,' he said Wednesday. He added any nation-building projects approved in Manitoba must be done in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in the province. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2025.
CBC
30-01-2025
- Business
- CBC
Manitoba grand chief accused of scrapping $20M land deal over alleged personal mortgage default
Southern Chiefs' Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels threatened to kill a $20-million land deal over demands that he make payments on a personal mortgage, a numbered company alleges in court documents. The allegation is made by lawyers for 7475323 Manitoba Ltd. in court documents associated with a legal battle between the private company and the Southern Chiefs' Economic Development Corporation. "On numerous occasions, Daniels advised that he could influence the progress of the transaction agreed on if the defendant … did not desist in its' demands [to make mortgage payments]," one of the court filings says. "Ultimately, Daniels … advised that this property transaction would not proceed further, which action [the company] asserts was motivated by the personal transaction matters." Daniels heads the Southern Chiefs' Organization, which represents 33 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in southern Manitoba with more than 87,000 citizens, its website says. The SCO owns the former Hudson's Bay Co. building in downtown Winnipeg, which is the focus of a $200-million redevelopment project, and is working with True North Real Estate Development on a residential tower proposed as part of the $650-million redevelopment of Portage Place, across from the old Bay building. The legal dispute that contains the allegations against Daniels was launched when the Southern Chiefs' Economic Development Corporation filed a lawsuit against the numbered company in November 2023, seeking a $100,000 deposit it made to the company in May 2019 for the possible acquisition of five parcels of land on Dugald Road in Winnipeg. The Southern Chiefs' corporation said in its statement of claim that the terms of its contract with the company included that, while the two parties would try to negotiate a $20-million deal for the land, neither of them "had any binding obligation" to make a deal. The contract also said "in the event that the parties did not close the purchase and sale agreement, any deposits would be returned," the statement of claim said. But in a statement of defence and counterclaim filed in May, the numbered company asked that the Southern Chiefs' Organization Economic Development Corporation be made to forfeit its $100,000 deposit and pay damages, including upwards of $765,000 in expenses incurred by the company as it worked to advance the land deal, alleging the Southern Chiefs' group "negligently misrepresented" its commitment to the deal. In that document, the company alleges that shortly after a letter of intent for the deal was executed around December 2018, Daniels approached the company to ask for a mortgage for a condo in Winnipeg — which the company said it provided through an associated corporation. The company alleges Daniels then "went into default under the payment terms several times," resulting in the company "putting Daniels on notice of the default, demanding payment, and advising of its intent to pursue its remedies," the statement of defence and counterclaim says. In a reply and defence to the counterclaim filed in August 2024, the Southern Chiefs' group denied the company's allegations, calling them "meritless, scandalous, vexatious [and] irrelevant." It also said Daniels was the one who was approached about taking out the mortgage — not the other way around — and that he did not default on it. The Southern Chiefs' group also denies the company's allegations of misrepresentation, saying the company "knew or ought to have known" the deal wasn't guaranteed to close, noting it had not secured the financing it needed to buy the land. The Southern Chiefs' Economic Development Corporation, established in 2018, was recently disbanded by the Manitoba Companies Office after it appears to have failed to file its annual returns for several years, provincial records show. Daniels was first elected as grand chief of the Southern Chiefs' Organization in 2017. He was acclaimed for a second term in 2020 and re-elected this past June. He recently returned to his position after going on leave following an altercation in Ottawa last month that left him hospitalized. Ottawa police later said the investigation into the incident was closed with no charges laid. Daniels later issued an apology via Facebook, saying he was seeking help for alcohol use after what he described as "a wake-up call." While Daniels was initially scheduled to return to his position Jan. 6, his leave was extended after eight First Nations that belong to the Southern Chiefs' Organization said they would withdraw from the organization unless a summit of its chiefs was held before a decision was made on its leader's return to office.
