SCO Launches Pakitawawin: A New Marketing Guide for Freshwater Fishers

July 4, 2024

ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — Today the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is pleased to announce the release of the Pakitawawin Marketing Guide for Freshwater Fishers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

“Fishing has always been vitally important for our Nations from both a sustenance and economic perspective,” stated Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “On behalf of all the Chiefs of the southern First Nations, I want to acknowledge the hard work of commercial First Nation fishers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, who continue to exercise our inherent and Treaty rights to fish.”

The Pakitawawin Marketing Guide for Freshwater Fishers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan was developed to assist fishers in the Prairies and to share useful information about the selling and marketing of fish, along with fishing regulations. The guide is meant to be helpful in all aspects of marketing fish.

Manitoba is one of the largest producers of freshwater fish. Commercial fishing provides income and a way of life for nearly 2300 people living in Manitoba. The inland fishery holds particular importance for First Nation people and in northern and remote communities. About 85 per cent of commercial fishers are Indigenous, with many living in First Nations.

“This is a much-needed resource with Manitoba’s inland commercial fishing industry contributing significant dollars to the provincial economy,” said Dauphin River Chief Lawrence Letander. “I have a number of commercial fishers in my Nation, and I can say with confidence, they will find this guide to be very helpful when it comes time to market their catches.”

The Pakitawawin Marketing Guide for Freshwater Fishers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan was made possible thanks to a partnership with Indigenous Services Canada.

The guide was written in plain language and is user-friendly. The finished copies were printed in a size that easily fits into a pocket, a tackle box, or the glove box of a vehicle.

Further details about Pakitawawin can be found on our website. Print copies are also available at no charge at the SCO sub-office in Winnipeg at 1572 Dublin Avenue. SCO is also providing giveaways of t-shirts, bucket hats, and stickers to celebrate the release of this new guide.

Anyone who would like a copy of the guide, or a giveaway item, can stop by during regular office hours from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday (please note our office is closed each day from 12 noon to 1 pm). Copies will also be mailed out by emailing media@scoinc.mb.ca or by calling 204-946-1869.

“It is our hope that commercial fishers will find this new guide to be user-friendly. On behalf of SCO, I commend the fishers who help to contribute to both the economy and the food security of our Nations through your work. As we have sadly been reminded in recent days, working on the water comes with significant risks. SCO expresses gratitude for the First Nations fishers whose life work contributes to the well-being of our citizens,” concluded Grand Chief Daniels.

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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 87,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.

For media inquiries:

Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca

NT6