Southern Chiefs’ Organization leader to return to role Jan. 6 following leave of absence

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Peggy

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization says Grand Chief Jerry Daniels will return to work in early 2025, a week after saying he’d stepped away from his role for an undetermined length of time owing to health reasons.

In a statement emailed to CBC News Thursday morning, the organization, which represents 33 First Nations in southern Manitoba, said its chiefs’ executive committee, CEO and two knowledge keepers recently met with Daniels.

“The grand chief will be returning from his leave on Jan. 6 and we look forward to welcoming him back in the new year,” the statement said.

Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean was acting grand chief for what he previously told CBC News would be a “very short term,” declining to comment further. SCO confirmed McLean was chosen by its chiefs’ executive committee.

Thursday’s announcement comes weeks after Daniels was hospitalized following an altercation in Ottawa.

A source, whom CBC has agreed not to name, said Daniels was involved in an early morning altercation while in Ottawa to attend a gathering of the Assembly of First Nations.

A spokesperson for the Ottawa Police Service said officers were called to the city’s ByWard Market area around 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 3 for a disturbance, after which a man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police would not confirm the man’s identity.

Neither Daniels nor SCO has responded to CBC’s questions about the incident.

Daniels was first elected as SCO’s grand chief in 2017. He was acclaimed for a second term in 2020 and re-elected this past June.