Motion seeks to remove longtime head of Southern Chiefs’ Organization due to ‘behaviour’ concerns

For the second time in a year, the leadership of Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels is being called into question.

A motion obtained by the Free Press calls “immediately” for a special summit of the 33 SCO chiefs to consider removing Daniels, who’s been at the helm since 2017.

The Aug. 17 motion, put forward by Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean and Bloodvein First Nation Chief Lisa Young, cites concerns about “governance, leadership, accountability, transparency, organizational decision-making and confidence of member Nations in the current leadership of the organization.”

McLean would not provide specific examples Wednesday but said the “behaviour” of Daniels is a concern.

Last year, the Southeast Resource Development Council, which represents eight SCO member nations, called for a leadership review. It accused Daniels of violating the organization’s constitution by failing to consult the executive committee before signing a memorandum of understanding with the Manitoba Métis Federation. That deal was struck to partner on infrastructure and development projects while seeking greater involvement in initiatives led by federal and provincial governments.

Daniels was not made available for an interview Wednesday but a prepared statement issued by the SCO said it respects the right of every chief to raise concerns, which can be addressed at the organization’s regular meetings held four times a year.

The next one is set for sometime in October.

“This provides all chiefs with the opportunity to consider the matter through the appropriate constitutional process, with proper notice, relevant information, and meaningful dialogue,” the SCO statement said.

In a letter Tuesday responding to McLean’s request for an immediate leadership review, the SCO executive committee said the matter could be raised at the next summit. It cited a “practical rationale” for not holding a meeting with chiefs before then.

“Holding more than four summits per year involves significant costs and should therefore be reserved for exceptional circumstances,” the response stated. “In addition to time away from communities, the average financial cost of a two-day summit is approximately $115,000. Whether the circumstances justify these commitments and expenses is a decision for the chiefs-in-summit, made following appropriate notice, the provision of relevant information, and meaningful dialogue.”

Daniels, who was re-elected to a historic third term in 2024, has a mandate to serve until 2027. The SCO executive committee said removing him before the end of his term would require more than 50 per cent of SCO chiefs voting to replace him.

The organization said Wednesday that it is accountable to the 33 First Nations it represents, and that its annual reports and audited financial statements are posted online. It defended its work over the last decade, saying the SCO is advancing “some of the largest and most consequential initiatives undertaken on behalf of southern First Nations.”

That includes the redevelopment of the former Bay building in downtown Winnipeg into Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, a 373-unit housing complex with cultural, public, commercial, and employment spaces.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Head Start

Weekday Mornings

A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day.

Sign up for Head Start

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

The SCO said it’s advanced First Nations jurisdiction in essential services such as health care and pushed for a child and family services system that better reflects their needs with adequate funding.

“SCO recognizes that an organization undertaking work of this scale will face questions, disagreements, and differing views about its direction,” the statement said. “Those views deserve to be heard. The appropriate place to address matters concerning the governance and future direction of SCO is among the chiefs, through the processes established in the SCO constitution.”

It’s not the first time Daniels has dealt with controversy during his nine years in power.

After being hospitalized after a 2024 fight outside a bar in Ottawa, he apologized and took a leave of absence for alcohol use treatment. Daniels has also been entangled in a legal dispute over a multimillion-dollar land deal in east Winnipeg. The SCO statement did not include a response to questions about the status of that lawsuit.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Motion and SCO response

Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter

Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.

Every piece of reporting Carol 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.