A local First Nations organization is asking its citizens to remain vigilant when using taxis in Winnipeg.

A press release from MKO says this comes following an incident last month when Loretta Caribou from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation requested a Unicity Taxi to give her a ride in the city.

Caribou states her driver stopped the vehicle about two kilometres from where she was picked up and said she had to pay a cash deposit before taking her to her destination.

She states she was lucky that she had cash on her that day as the temperature was cold outside, and Caribou believes racism played a role in the incident.

Grand Chief Garrison Settee is calling on all taxi companies and the City Winnipeg to ensure First Nations people can access safe taxi services, and that all levels of government should implement the Calls for Action regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.