Southern Chiefs' Organization Inc.

Published purpose

Located at 450 Portage Avenue in Winnepeg, Manitoba, the Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn “It Is Visible”, Southern Chiefs’ Organization Hudsons’s Bay Proposal Project consists of a retrofit on the historic Hudson’s Bay building, in order to operate their essential program and services in an Urban Indigenous setting. Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is one of the largest First Nation aggregates in Canada, and one that works very closely and at the direction of its Chiefs. Approximately 35,000 Anishinaabe and Dakota people of the 80,500 First Nation citizens live off-reserve, most of them living in Winnipeg. SCO is a high-capacity organization with the ability to deliver for Southern Chiefs, its citizens, and Canada. The SCO Project will improve the energy efficiency through mechanical system and building envelope upgrades. The retrofitted Hudson’s Bay building will also include accessibility features including improved elevator access and accessible washrooms. The structure will provide open space and accessibility for community services to the public and SCO’s 33 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations of 83,000 citizens. Winnipeg has the largest indigenous population in Canada and this Project will enable SCO to continue to deliver community needs of essential programs and services supporting their off-reserve band members living away from their communities.