SCOs Jerry Daniels calls chiefs-in-summit meeting to discuss addiction treatment

The leader of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) in Manitoba, who revealed he has “challenges with alcohol” after an embarrassing incident in Ottawa, has summoned members to a meeting in his community next week, APTN News has learned. Grand Chief Jerry Daniels did not attach an agenda to the “chiefs-in-summit” notice obtained by APTN News that he issued March 27 for the April 15-16 gathering in Long Plain First Nation, located about an hour west of Winnipeg. But Cornell McLean, the chief of Lake Manitoba First Nation, said Daniels wants to discuss his addiction treatment. “This is a follow-up to the meeting we had with (Daniels) on his recovery in January,” McLean told APTN via phone Tuesday. Daniels pledged to keep the chiefs of SCO’s 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota member nations updated after apologizing for his involvement in an early morning fight outside the Chateau Lafayette bar in Ottawa’s downtown Byward Market on Dec. 3. Read More: Grand chief apologizes for ‘incident’ in Ottawa The altercation involved politicians from Lake St. Martin First Nation, which belongs to SCO. They were in Ottawa for a national assembly at a nearby convention centre. “In mediation, everybody said they’re sorry and we carry on,” McLean added. “They accepted his apology as well as he accepted their apology. “Unfortunately, alcohol was involved and that’s never a good thing.” Ottawa police did not lay any criminal charges after investigating the 2:30 a.m. altercation where they said a man was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Daniels did not speak publicly about the incident until asked about it by APTN at an unrelated news conference on March 19. ‘Unfortunate incident’ There, he called it an “unfortunate incident” and said he was grateful to remain grand chief. McLean, who was acting grand chief following the incident, took issue with the way SCO administrators handled the situation: they announced Daniels was on health leave and declined to answer questions from reporters. “They should have just let it play out,” McLean said in the telephone interview. Daniels faced the chiefs privately in January at an undisclosed location where his continued leadership was endorsed. He first sent them a letter of apology he later posted to his Facebook page. In the letter, Daniels said he was seeking treatment after “a wakeup call” – presumably the incident in Ottawa – and promised to keep the chiefs regularly apprised of his progress. Read More: Grand chief in Manitoba on leave after alleged skirmish in Ottawa “Just like anyone who faces the shame of having personal struggles laid bare, I wish I had been honest sooner about my challenges with alcohol,” he wrote at the time. Daniels was re-elected in June to his third consecutive term as grand chief. While he is the face of the organization, the SCO constitution gives  chiefs the power. They can remove a grand chief through a vote. “One of the chiefs made a motion (at the January meeting) to have (the grand chief) renew his oath of office and stand by it,” noted McLean. “Because last time he made the oath he had a little slip there. “So now, he’s been warned that this behaviour won’t be tolerated. And his next incident will probably be his last incident.” Daniels’ spokesperson did not return messages from APTN seeking information on the upcoming summit. Daniels said in the meeting notice that SCO would cover the costs of chiefs’ travel, meals and accommodation connected to the event. Continue Reading