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Government Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation

SCO to Host United Nations in Winnipeg: Discussion on Global Indigenous Rights

November 26, 2024

NationTalk: ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB – The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) will host an International Seminar on the Right to Self-Determination in support of the United Nations’ (UN) Expert Mechanism on the Rights for Indigenous People (EMRIP). EMRIP was created by the UN’s Human Rights Council to provide expert advice on the Rights of Indigenous people across the globe as set out in the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The list of the number of issues which encompass our Right to Self-Determination is long.  This International Seminar will focus on Health Transformation and on Treaties and Indigenous Laws.  The Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations of SCO have invited participants to arrive as early as January 18th, 2025, to experience cultural and social events with visits to some of our First Nations.

“In this land now known as Canada, and in colonized countries around the world, the First People of all lands have been stripped of their cultures, their traditional forms of governing, and forced into assimilationist policies of settler governments,” said Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “Our stories are the same – loss of culture, loss of language, loss of land, and much more. We are ready as First Nations to lead the way forward in global truth and reconciliation.”

EMRIP is composed of seven independent Indigenous experts, including from Africa; the Arctic; Asia; Central and South America and the Caribbean; Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia, and Transcaucasia; North America; and the Pacific.

“First Nation citizens and leadership world-wide are ready to move forward with the changes needed to restore our rights in all countries that were colonized,” added Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation Chief Trevor Prince. “Governments have apologized, the Pope has apologized, it is now time to turn the apologies into real action with the proper resources in place to ensure success.”

The SCO is working toward status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. This means we will be able to attend UN Council Sessions and have the ability to share our concerns directly to the United Nations for discussion and to report on how Canada is working or not working with First Nations here at home on Turtle Island.  This will help to ensure the rights of all Indigenous people are protected wherever they may live and that all our Treaty partners honour international Treaty law and the right to self-determination.

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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 33 First Nations and more than 88,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.

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Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca