Margaret Swan

Margaret Swan was born in Winnipeg and spent her childhood and youth living on the Lake Manitoba First Nation. As a young woman she was in the military and later spent time working in various roles with First Nations and First Nation organizations.

She began her career in Portage la Prairie working as a social worker with Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services (CFS) and Sandy Bay CFS. She then went on to become Chief of Lake Manitoba First Nation, prior to being elected as Grand Chief of the Southern Chief’s Organization (SCO) 2000-2004.

She has also worked coordinating long-term planning for foster care at the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Inc. in Winnipeg. Swan was pivotal in moving the Indian Day School Class Action Lawsuit Settlements through to reality as a lead plaintiff, advocating to see that historic day happen in August 2019. She is Director of CFS for SCO, and also sits as Chair of the Board of the Southern First Nations Network of Care.