Insights and Analysis

Manitoba Elects New Grand Chief in By-Election

Chiefs from across Manitoba gathered this week to elect Kyra Wilson as the new Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC). This election followed the tragic passing of the late Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, who spent her final days advocating for justice for First Nations in Manitoba.

The candidates included: former Chief of York Factory First Nation, Leroy Constant; Sapotaweyak Cree Nation Councilor, Bava Dhillon; former Peguis First Nation Chief, Glenn Hudson; and former Chief of Long Plain First Nation, Kyra Wilson. Candidates needed at least 31 votes to secure the Grand Chief position on the first ballot. In the first round, 61 votes were cast, with the results as follows:

  • Leroy Constant: 10 votes
  • Bava Dhillon: 10 votes
  • Glenn Hudson: 4 votes
  • Kyra Wilson: 37 votes

Grand Chief Kyra Wilson has been a strong advocate for MMIWG2S+ and played a key role in calls to search a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women. She campaigned on seven pillars, including advocating for Canada to fulfill Treaty obligations and strengthening sovereignty to ensure the recognition of First Nations’ Inherent Rights. Wilson is the second woman to be elected to the position.

Leadership runs in Grand Chief Wilson’s family; her father, Robert Doucette, served as President of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan for two consecutive terms.

The AMC was formed in 1988 to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. It serves as a collective voice and advocacy organization for the 63 First Nations in Manitoba, representing more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province.

At the assembly, Chiefs focused on addressing what they described as “alarming service denials and delays” in funding for essential services under Jordan’s Principle. Manitoba Chiefs’ aim is to secure immediate and long-term commitments from the federal government to improve access to critical services for First Nations children and families. Jordan’s Principle is a federally funded program under Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) that covers all services First Nations children need, including healthcare, education, social services, and more.

Here to Help

For more information and insights about what these developments mean for the political landscape in Manitoba, please reach out to our experts:

Tara Bingham – Senior Strategy Advisor
tara@prairieskystrategy.ca
204.390.7760

Cliff Cullen – Senior Counsel
cliff@prairieskystrategy.ca
204.793.7424

Bronte Prosser – Senior Strategy Advisor
bronte@prairieskystrategy.ca
306.270.7405

To learn more about Prairie Sky Strategy, please visit our website

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