The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is scheduled to host a two-day drop-in support clinic in Brandon on February 18 and 19, 2026, to help families and community members from Sandy Bay, Manitoba, affected by the national emergency of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+). The clinic is set for the Brandon Friendship Centre (205 College Avenue) and will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days.
The clinic offers residents help with police and court files, access to trauma‑informed counsellors and traditional healers, and workshops and presentations designed to support community gatherings and healing. By bringing these services to the Westman region, SCO aims to reduce the need for families to travel to Winnipeg to access advocacy and supports.
For Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation members, the clinic is intended as a reconnection and recovery resource after a difficult year that included displacement during the 2025 wildfire season. Experts will be on site to help residents navigate complex government systems — including issues that arose during the province’s January 2026 rollout of digital health cards — and to provide systems‑navigation support.
The City of Brandon announced a partnership with SCO in December 2025 to deliver a Mobile Harm Reduction Outreach; that City program was funded through a Health Canada grant announced by the city. SCO has also described this MMIWG2S+ clinic as part of a broader mobile-delivery approach to reach Westman communities. Indigenous leaders continue to say the MMIWG2S+ crisis amounts to a national emergency and require immediate, community‑led solutions.
Sandy Bay residents seeking assistance or more information should contact the Sandy Bay Band Office or the Sandy Bay Health Centre to ask about available supports and any travel help for attending the clinic.
