The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) will host a two-day Jordan’s Principle clinic in Brandon on February 18 and 19, 2026, at the Victoria Inn to help families from the Peguis First Nation access essential funding for their children. The clinic offers in-person assistance with Jordan’s Principle requests, including help completing applications and navigating the program’s processes.
This in-person clinic comes at a time when many families are facing delays or rejections from the federal government. Changes to Indigenous Services Canada’s operating procedures introduced in early 2025 have narrowed eligibility for some requests, and reporting shows a backlog in Manitoba of about 6,000 outstanding cases as of late 2025. SCO says Jordan’s Principle coordinators and other specialized staff will be on site to help parents understand the new rules and to file appeals when previous requests for support were denied.
Families can get help with applications for a variety of needs, including medical equipment, speech therapy, and classroom assistants. Ogimaakaan (Chief) Dr. Stan Bird of Peguis First Nation has advocated for this support, saying the well‑being of children should not be subject to financial uncertainty. Approximately 70% of Peguis members live off‑reserve, and many reside in Brandon and other urban centres — making local clinics like this a vital resource for members who cannot easily access services on‑reserve.
The clinic is designed to ensure that applications are completed correctly to meet the narrower federal eligibility criteria introduced in 2025. By working directly with Jordan’s Principle coordinators, families can improve the accuracy of their submissions and the likelihood of timely approvals. The initiative is part of an ongoing effort by regional First Nations organizations and local partners to ensure First Nations children receive the services they are entitled to under orders from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
