'Health reasons' cited as Southern Chiefs' leader takes leave of absence after fracas in Ottawa

The Southern Chiefs' Organization has announced Jerry Daniels is leaving his position as grand chief for "an undetermined length of time" after he was hospitalized following an altercation in Ottawa last week.

In a statement emailed to CBC News Thursday, the organization, which represents 33 First Nations in southern Manitoba, cited "health reasons" for Daniels's departure.

It confirmed Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean was chosen by SCO's executive committee to take over as acting grand chief.

McLean had told CBC News late last week he would act as grand chief for what he said will be a "very short term," but declined to comment further.

The announcement comes just over a week after a gathering of the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa. A source, whom CBC has agreed not to name, said Daniels was involved in an early-morning altercation while in Ottawa for the meeting.

A spokesperson for the Ottawa Police Service said officers were called to the city's ByWard Market area around 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 3 for a disturbance, after which a man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police would not confirm the victim's identity.

Neither Daniels nor SCO has responded to CBC's questions about the incident.

In its statement Thursday, the organization said McLean has been a member of SCO's chiefs' executive committee and the chair of its finance and personnel committee for eight years.

Despite the change in leadership, the statement said it will be "business as usual" for the Southern Chiefs' Organization's programs and services.

A date for the organization's chiefs-in-summit meeting will be set for early in the new year, it said.

Daniels was first elected as SCO's grand chief in 2017. He was acclaimed for a second term in 2020 and re-elected this past June.