Media inquiries:

• For Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) or Grand Chief Garrison Settee, please contact Melanie Ferris by phone at 204-612-1284 or by email.
  If you would like to be added or removed to MKO’s media list, email Melanie.
• For Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin (KIM) or Dr. Barry Lavallee, please contact Annica Ramkissoon by phone at 431-277-6164 or by email.
  If you would like to be added or removed from KIM’s media list, email Annica.

You can find media coverage related to MKO here.

 

JANUARY 2021

January 14: MKO Statement on High Rates of COVID-19 in Northern Manitoba: Action Needed to Address Ongoing Systemic Issues Impacting the Health of Northern Citizens

January 12: MKO Statement on the Arrival of COVID-19 Vaccines in Northern Manitoba 

January 11: MKO Recognizes Chief David Monias of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation for Assisting with Unplanned Home Birth

January 11: Norway House Cree Nation Statement on COVID-19 Vaccines

January 7: Pimicikamak Statement on COVID-19 Vaccines

January 6: MKO Statement on COVID-19 Vaccines for Northern Manitoba

January 5: Statement on Manitoba’s Cabinet Shuffle: MKO Urges Government Leaders to Improve Relationships with First Nations

DECEMBER 2020: 

December 23: MKO Statement on Health Canada’s Approval of the Moderna Vaccine

December 17: MKO Unclear on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plans for Northern and Remote First Nations in Manitoba

December 9: MKO Expects Provincial and Federal Governments to Include First Nations Health Experts from Manitoba in COVID-19 Vaccine Planning

December 8: MKO Urges Premier of Manitoba to Issue Public Apology and to Work in Partnership with First Nations on Plan for COVID-19 Vaccine

December 7: MKO Statement on COVID-19 in Northern Manitoba

December 5: MKO Statement on the COVID-19 Outbreak in Shamattawa First Nation

December 3: MKO Statement on the COVID-19 Vaccine in Manitoba

December 3: MKO Implores Canada To Tackle Ongoing Infrastructure Issues Impacting Access to Safe Drinking Water for First Nations

NOVEMBER 2020:

November 9: MKO Statement on Violence Against First Nation Woman in Custody

November 2: First Nations Urge Province of Manitoba to Immediately Declare Keeyask Construction Site as Having an Uncontrolled COVID-19 Outbreak

OCTOBER 2020: 

October 31: First Nations Demand Aggressive Action from Manitoba Hydro: Uncontrolled COVID-19 Outbreak Detected at Keeyask Construction Site

October 30: Sapotaweyak Cree Nation Announces Two COVID-19 Cases: First Nation Moves into Orange (Restricted) Level to Protect Community Members

October 23: MKO Addressing the Supreme Court of Canada in Important Case About Compensation for Crown Government’s Wrongful Flooding and Other Actions

October 22: MKO Responds to New Public Health Orders for Northern Manitoba: Increased Restrictions Coming into Force on Monday, October 26, 2020

October 21: Indigenous Leaders hold Spirit Ride in solidarity with Mi’kmaq Fishers

October 19: First Nation Citizens in Manitoba Urged to Get the Flu Shot: Protecting Ourselves and Our Loved Ones

October 16: Update on COVID-19 at the Thompson YWCA: Potential Exposure from October 4 to 14, 2020

October 15: MKO Expresses Support and Solidarity with the Mi’kmaq Fishers of Nova Scotia

October 13: MKO Concerned with Rising Cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba: Manitoba Residents Encouraged to Remain Vigilant to Reduce the Spread of the Virus

October 9: MKO Statement on Fire Prevention Week: Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen

October 9: MKO Encourages First Nations Citizens to Remain Vigilant During Thanksgiving

October 7: MKO’s Response to Manitoba’s Speech from the Throne

October 5: Launch of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin’s “Breathe” Video PSA Encourages Uptake of Flu Vaccines for Northern First Nations

October 2: Remembering and Honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on October 4

October 1: MKO Statement on the Conservation restrictions on the Aboriginal right to hunt moose in the Porcupine and Duck Mountains

October 1: MKO Sends Condolences to the Family of Joyce Echaquan: Action Needed Now to Protect the Lives of Indigenous Peoples Across Canada

SEPTEMBER 2020:

September 30: MKO Honours Former Students of Residential Schools on Orange Shirt Day

September 28: MKO Statement on Confirmed COVID Cases in Northern First Nations

September 25: First Nations Citizens Encouraged to Keep Manitoba Health Cards Up to Date

September 25: Embracing the Resilience of Our Nations: Advocating for Northern First Nations at MKO’s 39th Annual General Assembly

September 23: MKO’s Response to the Speech from the Throne

September 1: MKO Statement on Historical Announcement about Residential Schools

AUGUST 2020:

August 31: MKO Pleased Public Health Orders Restricting Travel to Northern Manitoba Coming into Effect on September 4, 2020

August 24: MKO Encourages Fishers to Apply for Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program

August 22: MKO and AMC Joint Media Release- Grand Chiefs Urge for Reintroduction of Northern Travel Order

August 18: MKO Statement on the Return to Schools in Northern Manitoba

August 13: MKO Disappointed Manitoba Hydro Plans to Increase Rates for First Nations Customers

August 10: MKO Encourages Northern First Nations to Remain Vigilant Amongst Growing Rates of COVID-19 in Manitoba

August 5: MKO Remembers Kendara Ballantyne: Memorial Walk To Take Place in The Pas One Year After 18-Year-Old Found Deceased

August 5: Supporting First Nations Citizens Experiencing Homelessness: MKO Pleased to Provide Funding to YWCA Thompson

August 1: MKO Urges Province of Manitoba and Northern Health Region to Re-Open Health Clinic in Leaf Rapids Immediately

JULY 2020:

July 30: MKO Demands Action from Via Rail: Citizens of War Lake First Nation Plan Rail Blockade

July 14: MKO to Host March Against Racism in Response to Ongoing Mistreatment of First Nations Citizens at Thompson Walmart

July 8: MKO Condemns Beating of MKO Citizen by Saskatoon Police

July 3: MKO Concerned with Mistreatment of First Nations Citizens at the Thompson Walmart

June 2020: 

June 24: MKO Celebrates Pride with a Special Event in Thompson

June 20: MKO Set to Raise Flag at RCMP’s Thompson Detachment on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day

June 20: MKO Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 10: MKO Concerned about Police Violence Against Indigenous Peoples Across Canada

June 5: MKO Stands in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter Movement

June 4: MKO Responds to Latest Ruling from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

June 3: MKO Acknowledges Families Survivors and Two Spirited and Gender Diverse People who Shared Their Truths to Create a Pathway for Change

May 2020

May 28: MKO Statement on the Province of Manitoba’s Phase Two Re-Opening Plan

May 27: MKO Urges Federal Government to Move Forward on National Action Plan to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit, and Gender-Diverse People

May 24: Agreement Reached for Keeyask Construction Site

May 19: Manitoba Hydro Bringing up to 1200 Staff to Northern Manitoba Today Amidst Travel Restrictions and Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

May 15: Protecting our People from COVID-19: Tataskweyak Cree Nation Implementing Lock Down in Response to Manitoba Hydro Operations

May 15: Sixteen Off-Reserve First Nations Citizens Diagnosed with COVID-19 in Manitoba

May 12: Celebrating Indigenous Nurses Day and National Nursing Week

May 11: MKO Recognizes and Honours First Nations Citizens on Manitoba’s 150th Birthday

May 6: MKO Pleased Province of Manitoba is Collecting and Sharing First Nations-Specific Data during COVID-19 Pandemic

 

April 2020

April 28: MKO Encourages Province of Manitoba to Continue Prohibiting Travel to Northern Manitoba to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

April 25: MKO Offers to Condolences to First Nations Families Impacted by Recent Winnipeg Police Shootings

April 23: MKO Concerned Funding for Urban Indigenous Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Insufficient

April 15: Updated Public Health Orders Restrict Travel in Northern Manitoba

April 13: Manitoba’s Indigenous Leaders Denounce Province Passing Bill 34

April 7: COVID-19 Pandemic Amplifies Need for Reliable Internet and Phone Service in Northern Manitoba

April 2: Lack of Housing in Northern First Nations Impacts Ability to Self-Isolate

March 2020

March 31: Protecting First Nations in the Time of COVID-19: MKO Continues to Advocate for Northern Manitoba

March 30: Knowledge Keepers Radio Show Aims to Lift Spirits During COVID-19 Pandemic

March 18: MKO Encourages Northern First Nations to Take Four Steps to Protect the Most Vulnerable People from COVID-19

March 12: MKO Update on COVID-19 Preparations for Northern First Nations

March 11: Grand Chief Settee Calls for a Northern Roundtable between Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and Canada

February 2020

February 26: MKO Responds to Acts of Vandalism and Online Racism

February 13: MKO Update on Medical Services for Northern First Nations

February 10: MKO Expresses Solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en People

February 3: MKO Statement on the Passing of a Woman in Custody of the Thompson RCMP

January 2020

January 31: Historic First in Manitoba as Verdict Delivered in Northern First Nation in the Case of Crystal Andrews

January 30: MKO Supports Ending Birth Alerts in Manitoba

January 29: Every Action Counts: MKO Grand Chief Encourages Acts of Compassion on Bell Let’s Talk Day

January 27: MKO Chiefs Call on Province of Manitoba to Address Broken Justice System in Northern Manitoba

January 24: MKO Remembers Crystal Andrews of God’s Lake Narrows

January 23: MKO Chiefs Establish Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. as a First Nations Aggregate Entity to Support Health Transformation for The North

January 23: MKO Hosts Productive Chiefs’ Special Assembly on Health

January 22: MKO Supports Calls from the Correctional Investigator of Canada to Address A Most Persistent and Pressing Human Right Issue

January 20: MKO and Shamattawa First Nation Demand Perimeter Aviation Create an Improvement Plan for Flights in Northern Manitoba