Supplement to The Free Press, Honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day. June 21 is the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. It is a date celebrated by many cultures the world over, and one that holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities as a time for ceremony, renewal and gratitude for the earth’s cycles.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS | JUNE 2026
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY HONOURING
SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2026
View online at winnipegfreepress.com/fp-features
Published since 1872 on Treaty 1 territory and the homeland of the Métis
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30 years of celebration, culture and connection National Indigenous Peoples Day an opportunity to be inclusive and outward-looking
The Forks will present 11 days of celebrations as part of this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day.
BY KRISTIN MARAND
Brandon, Gimli, Buffalo Point, Swan Lake First Nation, Saint-Pierre Jolys, Gambler First Nation, The Pas, Win- nipegosis, Riverton, Tootinaowaziibeeng, Sheridan, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation and Winnipeg. One of the largest gatherings will be Many Nations, One Heartbeat, with events taking place at The Forks. National Indigenous Peoples Day is the start of 11 days of programming at the historic gathering place, leading up to Canada Day. “Indigenous Peoples Day has always been import- ant to The Forks to celebrate. We’ve been the meeting place for thousands of years, and we really want to honour and celebrate the history that’s been here,” says Tineke Buiskool-Leeuwma, communications and marketing advisor for The Forks. “Last year, we really wanted to blend and celebrate all Manitobans, especially focusing on the past, which is why we did the 11 days of programming, where each day was celebrating and learning about a different treaty within the province. This year we decided we would do the same thing, but focusing on the present and future of Manitoba; celebrating the culture, the diversity, and the people here.” It’s also an opportunity to focus on reconciliation, says another organizer. “Canada, Turtle Island, this is the home of our peoples, and recognizing and welcoming is part of reconciliation,” adds Tess Ray Houston, creative direc- tor for ᐊᐧᐦᑯᐦᑐᐃᐧᐣ Wáhkóhtowin at The Forks and Kíwétinohk Consulting. “We need to be aware of the strife and the atrocities that have happened in the past, but I think it’s also really important to focus on where we’re currently at and what we can bring to the future. Focusing on how we can develop our Indigenous youth, and creating places for community, how we can move forward together, how we could progress, and create a sense of belonging for everyone.” The festivities will get underway on June 21 at 10:30 with an opening ceremony with Elders at the Oodena Celebration Circle. Bannock Babes will host
June 21 is the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. It is a date celebrated by many cultures the world over, and one that holds deep spir- itual and cultural significance for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities as a time for cer- emony, renewal and gratitude for the earth’s cycles. Since 1996, the day has also been dedicated to honouring the contributions of the many Indigenous groups that have shaped our country. National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) is one of five federal celebrations collectively referred to as Celebrate Canada days. They are opportunities to cele- brate our ethnic, linguistic, ethnocultural and regional diversity, which helps make Canada a truly inclusive and outward-looking country. For this year’s 30th anniversary, there are 20 official NIPD events listed at Canada.ca taking place across Manitoba between June 19 and 21. On June 20, Métis culture will be honoured at the annual Picnic Di Michif hosted by the Union Nationale Métisse Satin-Joseph du Manitoba at Fort Gibraltar in Winnipeg. Elsewhere in the city, the Southern Chiefs Organization will host an Indigenous reconciliation gathering at the Canadian Forces Base at 680 Wihuri Road and the Assiniboine Park Conservancy has a full day of activities planned. There are also events taking place on June 20 hosted by Sagkeeng Child and Fam- ily Services in Fort Alexander. On June 21, celebrations are planned in Thompson,
Many different Indigenous artisans and crafters will present their work during the Many Nations, One Heartbeat event at The Forks.
The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba will have a significant presence at The Forks during NIPD festivities.
Visitors to The Forks during National Indigenous Peoples Day are encouraged to come with an open mind and a willingness to learn.
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On June 21st, I’ll be thinking of a hopeful future for Anishinaabe, Cree, Anisininew, Métis and Inuit people. Salute to my friends I have grown up with in Winnipeg.
in with a curious mind, an open mind and be open to new perspectives. You might not understand things right away, but it’s OK to ask questions. There are a lot of different people in this world and it’s really cool to have different viewpoints and different ways of living. Being able to collaborate and be open to accommodating each other, I think that’s just beautiful,” she says. Additional programming between June 21 to July 1 will include collaborations with Folk- lorama, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, The Junos, Sākihiwē Festival, Indigenous Music and more. There will be customized tours and speaker initiatives offering treaty insights. There will also be plenty of opportunities to learn about Indigenous culture and history at The Forks outside of the celebration days, including visiting the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba’s Agowiidiwinan Centre, checking out Turtle Tours and partaking in the many offerings from Indigenous Tourism Manitoba. “We encourage folks to take other forms of transportation to get to The Forks on those busy days, especially on June 21 and July 1. If you can walk, bike, take transit, carpool, take the river, the riverwalk, we definitely encourage folks to do that,” Buiskool-Leeu- wma reminds. n
treaty and land-based teachings, an Inuit sharing circle and a Métis beading circle. Music lovers will be treated to a plethora of live music at the young artists’ music stage and performances by Burnstick, Cassidy Mann and Ila Barker. “The elders that we’ve been consulting with, Elder Charlotte Nolin, as well as Elder Barbara Nepinak, one of the things they really wanted to highlight for the programming overall was making it interactive, making it really focused on the youth, as well as focusing on relation- ships, [with] the land, and the interconnect- edness between all peoples on this land,” Houston says.
a drag brunch near the canopy, Pihtikwè will hold skateboard demos at the skate park and Indigenous Tourism Manitoba will host a scavenger hunt. At the CN Field area, there will be a hand- made market featuring all Indigenous artists, food vendors, lawn games, drumming and a powwow sponsored by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization. There will also be a tipi set up and opportunities to take in two-spirit,
COME WATCH, LISTEN, ASK QUESTIONS. MIND, AN OPEN MIND AND BE OPEN TO NEW PERSPECTIVES. “ – Tess Ray Houston, creative director for ! Wáhkóhtowin at The Forks and Kíwétinohk Consulting “
Ross listens!
Houston hopes that people who visit The Forks during the 11 days between National Indigenous Peoples Day and Canada Day will feel welcome, that they belong, and that there is room for and value in their experi- ences and stories. Her creative vision for the programming is to create a space where people can honour Indigenous cultures while creating a safe space for them to ask questions and learn. “Come watch, listen, ask ques- tions. We’re all learning here. Come
WE’RE ALL LEARNING HERE. COME IN WITH A CURIOUS
ROSS EADIE City Councillor, Mynarski Ward City issues? Call 204-289-5188
Email readie@winnipeg.ca www.winnipeg.ca/council or www.rosseadie.ca
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On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, we honour and celebrate all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada. Manitoba Public Insurance commits to continue building and strengthening partnerships with Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba, fostering an inclusive organization that promotes economic reconciliation, raising awareness, and increasing representation among employees, while ensuring culturally safer spaces and barrier free access to the products and services offered. To learn more about how we bring our Statement of Commitment to life, read our Indigenous Action Plan at: mpi.mb.ca/indigenous-engagement.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MPI OPERATES THROUGHOUT MANITOBA ON THE TREATY TERRITORIES AND ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE ANISHINAABE, ININIWAK, ANISININEW, DAKOTA, DENE, INUIT AND THE HOMELAND OF THE RED RIVER MÉTIS.
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Ones to watch A look at some up-and-coming Indigenous entrepreneurs business leaders
Another one of the lawn games Nina Waste Events offers.
Rayel Smoke works the Sinko lawn game
BY GEOFF KIRBYSON
Rayel Smoke started the company she couldn’t find when she was planning her wedding two years ago.
The 32-year-old needed help with an Indigenous blanket ritual, a part of the ceremony she hoped would help her feel closer to her Ojibway roots. But when she started researching companies that specialized in that kind of thing, she came up empty. “That was my light bulb moment,” she says. “I was looking online for somebody who could teach us. We didn’t have a lot of guidance. There was nothing.” She turned to her older sister, Tannis Smoke, and said, “maybe we can be those people.” In May 2024, they became those people, launching Niña Was . te Events. Well, almost. The long-term goal is to provide a variety of products and services for weddings, including Indigenous centrepieces, decor, teachings, symbols and ceremonies. But while researching rentable wedding items, they happened upon lawn games. “We thought we could do something bigger with this,” she says. Having grown up crafting together, they started building their own Indigenous-themed lawn games, including chess, checkers and dominoes, as well as some rebranded and rejigged ones — Shuffle instead of Scrabble — to avoid any copyright issues.
(Left to right) Edwin Peters, Rayel Smoke and Tannis Smoke of Nina Waste Events.
Michael B. Monias of Monias Consulting & Projects.
Proud to celebrate working with our partners to create opportunities for Indigenous youth for over twenty-five years. www.wasac.ca
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The 28-year-old believes he’s ideally positioned to help many First Nations around the province because he has lived experience, which differentiates him from many other business consultants. It also helps that he’s technologically savvy. “Nothing will be fixed overnight but I’m in it for the long haul,” he says. There are a lot of systemic barriers that continue to have a negative influence on First Nations’ youth but he believes he can be part of the solution to turn things in the right direction. “I was in that rez kid’s shoes 15 years ago. It took a lot of growing for me to get to where I am. I’m here to make a difference in Indigenous communities and focus on capacity development rather than extraction. I want to have relationships with community members and with leadership,” he says. “Ideally, I’d like to help a community out to the point where it doesn’t need my services anymore.” Niña Was . te is a side hustle for both Smoke sisters— Rayel works for Dreamcatcher Promotions while Tannis is an accountant — but they hope one day it could grow into a full-time gig. Rayel says she’s soaking up everything she can from Michelle Cameron, founder and CEO of Dreamcatcher, Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned promotional company. “Seeing someone who looks like you, talks like you and is from similar communities, can inspire you to take that leap. She has been a mentor for us,” she says. n
“We come from a family that loves to play games, like dice or cards, it’s what our family has always done. It’s a lot more fun when it’s giant-sized.” Niña Was . te is most definitely in growth mode, having recently purchased a trailer with the proceeds of a business loan. “That’s going to allow us to expand into more games and other items to rent. We’re definitely expanding this year. We’re part of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and we’re constantly networking to get our name out there,” she says. The Smoke sisters are far from the only young Indigenous entrepreneurs in Manitoba. After three years as an economic development officer at Norway House Cree Nation, Michael B. Monias decided he could make a bigger impact if he went out on his own. He founded Monias Consulting & Projects last October, a company specializing in strategic planning, operations, administration and governance. He believes this is a fantastic time to be an Indigenous entrepreneur, thanks in part to the growing number of Indigenous-themed programs at post-secondary institutions, including RRC Polytech, the University of Waterloo and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies. “There are incubators popping up all over the place. Ten years ago, Indigenous entrepreneurialism was not talked about. It’s huge now. I’m helping my clients realize their entrepreneurial dreams. They’re realizing their worth now and it’s beautiful to see and experience first-hand,” he says.
One of the most popular ones with young Indigenous kids is Who Dis? an Indigenous spin on Guess Who?, the classic deduction game where two players take turns asking yes or no questions to identify a mystery character. “We didn’t have that kind of representation when we were kids. The kids who play today get to see people who look like them and they ask a lot of funny questions,” she says.
TEN YEARS AGO, INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURIALISM WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT. IT’S HUGE NOW. I’M HELPING MY CLIENTS REALIZE THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAMS. “ – Michael B. Monias “
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Together, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day!
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economic impact
HAVING AN IMPACT Indigenous-led businesses helping drive economic, social development
BY JENNIFER MCFEE
Indigenous-led businesses create positive financial and social impacts across the province — and the ripple effects are serving to increase their reach.
be growing our membership, developing meaningful partnerships, introducing new and exciting events, and continuing to create opportunities that benefit our members and Indigenous businesses throughout the province,” she says. Right now, they are preparing for two upcoming events — the ICC annual gen- eral meeting on June 25 at RRC Polytech and the Neebing Golf Tournament on July 23 at The Players Course. “We also plan to continue expanding our programming, creating more net- working opportunities, strengthening procurement advocacy and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs in any way we can,” she says. “The future of Indigenous business in Manitoba is bright and moving in the right direction, but there are still a few bumps to smooth out before we get there. To help make that happen, the ICC will continue to be a strong champion for Indigenous business and a committed advocate for meaningful change so our businesses can grow, succeed and thrive throughout the province.” By supporting a business in the ICC directory, Manitobans simultaneously support local entrepreneurs, homegrown jobs and stronger economies. “Indigenous businesses play an important role in advancing economic rec- onciliation while creating lasting impacts through community investment, rela- tionship-building and long-term growth across Manitoba,” she says. “When you support local Indigenous businesses, you are also supporting businesses that often give back directly to their communities through employment, mentorship, sponsorships and community involvement.” Looking at the bigger picture, Indig- enous entrepreneurship in Manitoba is about far more than business growth. “It’s about opportunity, self-determi-
Adding to that impact is the fact that Manitoba has one of the youngest and fastest-growing Indigenous populations in Canada. “Indigenous businesses are creating economic opportunities, supporting work- force growth and playing an increasingly important role in major industries and development projects across the prov- ince,” Bulycz says. “Economic reconciliation is no longer viewed as symbolic — it is becoming an essential part of Manitoba’s long-term economic success.” Over the past 15 years, Indigenous businesses in Manitoba have become more visible and increasingly involved in economic development projects, partner- ships and industry conversations. However, Bulycz says that Indigenous procurement remains one area that still needs improvement. “The Indigenous Chamber of Commerce recently submitted a resolution to the Manitoba government calling for major improvements to its Indigenous Procure- ment Initiative. The ICC is advocating for a stronger mandatory framework with clear targets, stronger accountability, better consultation with Indigenous businesses and safeguards against false Indigenous claims,” she says. “The goal is to create a procurement system that meaningfully increases Indigenous participation in government contracts and supports long-term Indig- enous economic growth in Manitoba. Although important steps are being taken, there is still major work ahead to ensure Indigenous businesses have equitable access to opportunities and a stronger role in Manitoba’s economic future.” With Bulycz’s recent appointment as CEO, the ICC is poised to enter a new chapter focused on growth, partnerships and increased presence. “A major priority moving forward will
The Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (ICC) currently has about 200 members and is Manitoba’s leading voice for Indige- nous business and economic reconcilia- tion. The organization brings together both Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs and community leaders to strengthen relationships and advance econom- ics across the province. The organization continues to grow while also helping Indig- enous businesses expand their reach, build partnerships and access new opportunities.
Shelly Bulycz recently took the helm of the organization
as its new chief executive officer and is enthusiastic about the economic impacts Indigenous-led businesses are having here in Manitoba. “Financially, these businesses create jobs, attract investment, support local supply chains and contribute to long-term economic growth across both urban and rural communities,” she says. She points to a Brandon University study conducted by the Rural Develop- ment Institute in partnership with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization and Man- itoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. The study found that Indigenous economic activity contributed more than $2.3 billion to Manitoba’s GDP, supported upwards of 35,700 jobs, generated $1.3 billion in wages and salaries, and contributed $231 million in taxes in 2016 alone. “Socially, the impact is equally significant,” she adds. “Many Indig- enous businesses reinvest back into their communities, support youth and cultural initiatives, strengthen language and cultural preservation, and help create opportunities for future generations.”
THE FUTURE OF INDIGENOUS BUSINESS IN MANITOBA IS BRIGHT AND MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION “ – Shelley Bulycz “
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“The ICC’s resolution to strengthen Man- itoba’s Indigenous Procurement Initiative is about creating real opportunities, real accountability and real economic participa- tion for Indigenous businesses. Indigenous businesses are ready. Our entrepreneurs are ready. Now we need systems and policies that are equally ready to support long-term Indigenous economic growth and success across Manitoba.” Indigenous entrepreneurship in Manitoba continues to grow and diversify in industries throughout the province. ICC membership benefits include networking, access to procurement and partnerships, educational workshops, business development resources, advocacy, increased visibility and connections to funding and mentorship opportunities. “We are also currently developing new membership and partnership packages to create even more opportunities and value for our members and supporters,” Bulycz says. “Anyone interested is always welcome to reach out to the ICC office to learn more.” n To learn about the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, visit indigenouschambermb.ca or call 204-237-9359.
Shelley Bulycz of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce. PHOTO SUBMITTED
nation and building a stronger future for our communities and our province as a whole. While we are seeing meaningful progress, now is the time for governments, industry leaders and organizations to move beyond conversation and take real action — espe- cially when it comes to Indigenous procure- ment,” Bulycz says.
The teachings and traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis reflect a resilience that has strengthened communities. Today, on the 30th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, we honour the Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Traditional Healers who ground celebrations in cultural truth and intergenerational connection. We believe in a future where their traditions grow stronger and their knowledge lives on. As we look ahead, let us walk together in a spirit of reconciliation, collaboration and healing. Visit ACU.ca to learn more about our commitment to reconciliation. Culture grows stronger the more it’s shared.
Celebrating the voices that shape our story. NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
We recognize and celebrate the rich traditions, vibrant cultures and enduring contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada.
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‘A surreal experience’ Indspire Award win an amazing moment, Hrechka says
profile
IT’S GREAT TO BE A SMALL TOWN KID FROM DAUPHIN AND GET THIS AWARD WHERE IT’S NOT LIKE IT’S SOMEONE FROM TORONTO OR SOME BIG CITY LIKE THAT “ – Garrett Hrechka “
Garrett Hrechka accepting 2026 Indspire award PHOTO BY INDIGENOUS GEOGRAPHIC/PASHLEY MEDIA
BY JIM TIMLICK
Garrett Hrechka admits it was a bit unsettling when he walked onto the stage at the Halifax Convention Centre last month for the 2026 Indspire Awards presentation ceremony. The Indspire Awards are the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon itself and honours First Nations, Inuit and Métis people whose accomplishments have helped to uplift communities across Turtle Island and beyond. Hrechka was one of 14 recipients who were honoured during the May 14 nationally televised ceremony. The 24-year-old product of Dauphin received the Métis Youth Award for his dedication to helping others. “It was such a surreal experience,” he says of the moment. “At first, I was kind of like I don’t deserve it because there were so many deserving candi- dates. To be recognized by Indspire was truly amazing. Being recognized like that made me feel like I’m doing something right. It was an awesome experience.” Hrechka was joined in Halifax by his parents.
He says the best part of winning the award was the boost of his self-confidence it gave him and the sense of validation it provided. He hopes his win inspires other young Indigenous people to follow their dreams and understand they can make a positive difference in their community. “It’s great to be a small-town kid from Dauphin and get this award where it’s not like it’s someone from Toronto or some big city like that,” he says. “I hope it helps people realize if you have ideas, then work on them and they matter and see how far you can take them.” Helping others has always been a big part of Hrechka’s life, something he says is a way of life for most Indigenous people. Last summer he worked with the Northwest Métis Council in a couple of different roles. He supervised a group of high school students tasked with maintaining a community garden in Dauphin. He also helped run several NMC summer camps for youth. “It was pretty fun,” he says of the experience. “The main thing I like about it was the com- pany, the people I worked with and working with the youth. It was fun and something I never really did as a kid. I would have loved to go and camp out. It was a pretty cool experience.” Despite a busy schedule, Hrechka also
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season after blocking a shot with his left hand that “destroyed” a knuckle in training camp. Prior to that he played parts of three seasons with his hometown Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, including their league championship season in 2022. The 5-foot-9, 167-pound winger was sup- posed to play for Team Manitoba at the 2021 North American Indigenous Games but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he did get a taste of interna-
so they can benefit and help shape AI, some- thing that seems super scary right now but can also be beneficial,” he says. As part of the program’s first cohort of learn- ers, Hrechka teamed-up with fellow participant Mary Gallerneault to create SAIGE. SAIGE is an AI-powered matching tool that helps Indigenous students to connect with funding opportunities to support their post-sec- ondary studies. Users sign in, answer a series of questions and SAIGE then scours its online database and provides a list of scholarship opportunities that are the best match for each individual user. The partners are currently putting the finish- ing touches on the system and hope to release it to the public in the not too distant future. “Mary and I were given the topic of education and to come up with a solution. We’re both going through post-secondary and started talking about what was a problem for us. Fund- ing would always come up and having to look everywhere for it,” he explains, adding the system could also eventually be used to promote things like budgeting and financial literacy. “The idea with SAIGE is to centralize funding in one place so you’re not running all over the place and you can find the funding you need more easily.” Hrechka is hoping to resume his hockey career this fall. He missed all of the UVic Vikes 2025-26
managed to find time to work as a personal care worker for an individual living with an intellectual disability. He also recently served a stint as a volunteer firefighter with the Dauphin Fire Department, something he enjoyed every minute of. “I loved it, a lot. If I didn’t like what I’m doing right now with computer science at university, being a firefighter would be my next option,” he says. “I got to go into a burning building for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was really fun. It sounds crazy but the people I work with at the fire hall had my best interests at heart and they are super safe.” Hrechka is currently in his third year of studies at the University of Victoria, where he is studying mathematics and computer science. He is also a member of the school’s men’s hockey team. He was recently tapped to participate in the Indigenous Pathfinders in AI program, Canada’s first dedicated artificial intelligence initiative for First Nations, Inuit and Métis talent. The sev- en-week program is operated by Mila, a Quebec artificial intelligence institute, in conjunction with Indspire and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. The aim of the program is to train Indigenous professionals to build ethical, community-driven AI. “AI is still so new and it’s important to get Indigenous voices in those kinds of spaces early
tional hockey last summer when he was chosen to be part of a Cana-
dian squad that took part in a Canada-U.S. exhibition series in Australia that also features players from the semi-pro Australian Ice Hockey League. It was an experience he isn’t likely to forget anytime soon. “I was surprised by the skill level there. It’s definitely on the way up. There was one guy I met who goes to Finland for
the winter just to play hockey.” n
Garrett Hrechka in Vikes’ team uniform
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Steady fuel in an unsteady market. Today we honour National Indigenous Peoples Day, the strength, leadership, and resilience of Indigenous communities.
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movement is medicine
Creating a path to better health SCO, Bombers hope to get youth moving with Movement is Medicine initiative
BY JIM BENDER
to bring young people from Northern First Nations to celebrate their annual Orange Shirt game in September and will now bring youth from SCO communities to their June 25 game against the Edmonton Elks. “It’s our ongoing connection to the Indigenous com- munity and further extension to that right,” says Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller. “We look forward to the game in June right now around the National Indigenous Peoples Day and to be able to go to the communities and bring Brandon Alex- ander and our group to teach flag football and be (in) the communities as well.”
The project will include representatives from the Bombers visiting five SCO Nations each year for a total of 15 communities over the three-year partnership. “It’s about helping our young people thrive,” says Daniels, adding that he is diabetic. “It supports physical health, mental wellness, confidence, belonging and con- nections. So, that is what some of our goals are. We really tried to target our youth and tried to create opportunities to participate in sport, recreation and establish positive pathways to stronger self-esteem, healthy choices and pride in who they are. Our youth deserve opportunities that are accessible. Too many of our First Nations youth have barriers – recreational barriers and barriers to orga- nized sport because you don’t see a lot of that in the rural areas. “With Movement is Medicine, we’ve created partner- ships and a lot of those partnerships, including the one with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, (are about) turning reconciliation into action. It’s a three-year partnership and every year, we’ll have representatives coming into five of our SCO Nations.” Former Bomber Brandon Alexander has already led a team to visit First Nations communities to promote activities such as flag football. “Primarily, we’re talking about flag football and then, producing and developing flag football kits to start to really promote flag football to get communities to par- ticipate, creating that outreach, creating membership,” Daniels says. “These are also sports camps that are happening and we’re tying them into cultural and game-day activities that we celebrate the Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations and identities.” The Bombers already have an agreement in place
Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels initiat- ed a capital idea that turned into an impressive three-year agree- ment with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to address the health crises in the 33 First Nations communities that he oversees. The SCO has teamed up with the Bombers to create the Movement is Medicine project, both organizations recently announced jointly. The collaboration will include community outreach ini- tiatives, youth mentorship programs and cultural events that highlight a shared commitment towards inclusion, reconciliation and community building, and will coincide with National Indigenous Peoples Day. “It’s an initiative to battle against diabetes,” Daniels says. “It’s a diabetes campaign and the reason we did it is because we have had a lot of people experiencing a great deal of health complications: loss of life as the result of diabetes directly or symptoms resulting from diabetes, liver failure, kidney disease, heart failure, that kind of stuff. As a response, we wanted to promote an active lifestyle and that’s why Movement is Medicine became a big part of that.”
The Movement is Medicine initiative aims to get kids moving and be more active.
The Southern Chiefs organization has teamed-up with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to launch the Movement is Medicine project.
PHOTOS BY SOUTHERN CHIEFS’ ORGANIZATION
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The Bombers, by the way, were the first sports organi- zation in North America to give a land titles acknowledg- ment before their games in 2015. The first three First Nations to be visited this year were Roseau River (early May), Ebb and Flow First Nation (late May) and Lake Manitoba First Nation (early June). That will be followed by sojourns to Birdtail Sioux First Nation in September and Brokenhead and Sagkeeng First Nations in late September and early October. “It’s been really positive,” Miller says. “Lots of excitement and Bomber fans throughout Manitoba are happy to have the SCO be a part of that team as well.” n
Teaming with the likes of SCO has mutual benefits for the Bombers. “When you see kids’ faces and smiles in the stadium for the first time and make sure everyone knows they’re wel- come in Princess Auto Stadium, it’s something special, for sure,” says Miller, who foresees many First Nations people becoming Bombers fans in the future. “Another way for us to grow our fan base is to connect with different communities and this is an important one in our province. Grand Chief Daniels was gracious enough to allow us to do that and work with him, and we’re proud to help with Movement is Medicine.”
Each of the 33 SCO communities will be given 25 tick- ets to attend the Bombers game and possibly more as an anonymous donor may pay for additional tickets, Daniels says. But the most important part of the agreement is to encourage First Nations youth to get moving. “When our young people are active, supported and proud of who they are, our Nation becomes stronger,” Daniels says. “Through our partnership with organizations like the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, we have created real opportunities with First Nations youth, demonstrating what meaningful reconciliation can look like.” While the SCO considers youth to be those in school, the project also includes young adults.
“There’s also senior-level youth that will assume leadership roles like Birdtail Sioux Dakota First Nation Chief Tréchelle Bunn, who had a marathon (Reconciliation Run) in her First Nation and is very much a pro- ponent of Movement is Medicine,” Daniels says. “It’s really about people like her, not only being impacted by Movement is Medicine but starting their own in First Nations. “What we want to do with this is … get people to talk about Movement is Medicine as a way of combating some of the unhealthy outcomes that we’re experi- encing in our Nations.”
WHEN CULTURE DRIVES CHANGE,
SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels says Movement is Medicine was conceived to help battle diabetes in First Nations communities.
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*photo used with permission from Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers.
12 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
JUNE 2026
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!
We are honoured to live and work on this incredible land. We recognize the immense impact of Indigenous Peoples throughout history and towards building the foundation for our shared future. Today and every day, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples.
Learn what Manitoba Blue Cross is doing to honour Indigenous Peoples today and every day:
mb.bluecross.ca/journey
®*The Blue Cross symbol and name are registered marks of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, independently licensed by Manitoba Blue Cross. †Blue Shield is a registered trade-mark of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. 2026-0506
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