MMF and SCO unite for economic reconciliation in Manitoba

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) and Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) are partnering to advance economic reconciliation for their people amidst the passing of the One Canadian Economy Act, or Bill C-5. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, declaring their intent to pursue an “Indigenous-led economic development strategy” so the potential benefits of Bill C-5’s fast-tracked major infrastructure projects are properly bestowed upon their respective citizens. SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels says the agreement is a “powerful statement of unity”. “The MOU we are about to sign is more than an agreement between SCO and MMF. It’s a commitment to lead together, to prosper together, and to protect the lands and waters for generations to come,” he said with MMF President David Chartrand at his side in the historic trading grounds of The Forks, Winnipeg. SCO represents 32 First Nations in southern Manitoba, and the MMF represents tens of thousands of Red River Métis across Canada. The One Canadian Economy Act promises to push ahead with projects deemed in the national interest by the federal cabinet. The law allows the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney to circumvent some established laws – mainly environmental legislation – to get a project going. Many environmentalists say it’s a dangerous move in a time when the climate crisis is being acutely felt – especially in northern Manitoba, where wildfires have forced the evacuation of several communities. A number of Indigenous leaders are wary of the law because of issues around the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and consultation. ‘Active partners’  MMF President David Chartrand, left, and SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels at the Forks in Winnipeg on Wednesday. Photo: Sav Jonsa/APTN. The MOU outlines a five-year framework they will follow to ensure their cultural, environmental, and economic priorities are reflected in federal and provincial development projects. They will also work together with the Manitoba government’s newly proposed Crown-Indigenous Corporation, which intends to seek approvals from Indigenous leaders regarding those projects. “We are positioning ourselves as active partners, ensuring that First Nations and Red River Metis communities are not just consulted, but are central to decision making process,” said Daniels. Jobs, trade opportunities, sustainable forestry and harvesting practices are all important areas for economic development, says Daniels and Chartrand. They will create a natural resource committee to set rules to ensure sustainable wildlife harvesting. Chartrand says he’s been waiting for a partnership like this for almost three decades. “We’ll have differences, trust me,” said Chartrand, “But we also have more compatibility than differences and when we find those differences we will find solutions to them … because it’ll be the betterment for each of us. Not just for [Daniels] or me, it’ll be for our people.” He says the political power the MMF and SCO will have in shaping government decisions will show other Indigenous nations what is possible when they work together. “[When] we join forces to protect our natural resources, our harvesting, and all those that come beside it, it will be a force to reckon with. We will not just let somebody decide the fate of the future,” said Chartrand. Continue Reading