Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick remembered as 'a force of strength' as tributes pour in

Cathy Merrick, the first woman to become grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, is being remembered as a "remarkable leader" and a "true matriarch," as tributes poured in from leaders across Canada after her sudden death on Friday.

Merrick was speaking to media about a court case outside the law courts builing in Winnipeg early Friday afternoon when she collapsed. She was given CPR before being rushed away in an ambulance.

Merrick, 62, is survived by her husband, Todd, three children and eight grandchildren, a friend confirmed to CBC.

Several officials, including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, expressed condolences and paid tribute to Merrick on Friday.

Merrick approached her work with joy, compassion, thoughtfulness and a spirituality "that was grounded in the belief that we are all equal in the eyes of the Creator and that we all deserve to live a good life," said Kinew, who became the first First Nations premier of Manitoba last year.

"I will miss her wise counsel, her drive to get things done and most of all — her hugs," Kinew said in a written statement Friday, which was also posted to social media.

"No matter how challenging or difficult any political conversation was, Cathy Merrick always greeted you and said farewell by hugging you."

The flags outside the Manitoba Legislative Building have been lowered to half-mast in recognition of Merrick, the statement said.

1st woman to lead AMC

Merrick, the former chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation (also known as Cross Lake) in northern Manitoba, was elected as Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs grand chief in October 2022, becoming the first woman to lead the advocacy group in its nearly 35-year history. She was re-elected to the post in July 2024.

On Friday, an emotional Merrick collapsed shortly after speaking to media about what she called "a gross miscarriage of justice" following the acquittal of a Manitoba corrections officer charged in the 2021 death of William Ahmo, a First Nations man who was an inmate at the Headingley Correctional Centre.

Merrick was speaking to reporters about a different case when she collapsed.

CBC reporters saw people performing first aid on Merrick.

Merrick speaks to media on Feb. 10, 2023, after the federal government announced funding for a feasibility study into a potential search for the remains of two First Nations women at the Prairie Green landfill. Merrick had been a prominent voice in calling for a search for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

Earlier this week, Merrick was scheduled to speak at a news conference regarding a class-action lawsuit over a six-year-long boil water advisory in Shamattawa First Nation. Instead, another representative from the AMC spoke on her behalf. 

Merrick had been front and centre in media coverage recently on several other significant stories, including the trial and sentencing of serial killer Jeremy Skibicki.

In 2022, he killed three First Nations women — Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran — and an unidentified woman referred to as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, who is believed to have been Indigenous and in her 20s.

He was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder in July.

Merrick had also been a prominent voice in calling for a search for the remains of Harris and Myran. It's believed their remains were taken to the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, after they were killed.

Kinew said in his statement Friday the landfill search for the women's remains — expected to begin next month — and other important steps to improve the lives of First Nations people in the province will be rededicated to Merrick's memory.

"On behalf of the people of Manitoba, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Cathy's husband, family, friends and supporters on the loss of our grand chief," his statement said.

'A true matriarch'

Other provincial leaders also paid tribute to Merrick, including Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, who extended her condolences to Merrick's family, friends and community in a Facebook post Friday.

Fontaine said she had the privilege of knowing and working with Merrick for over two decades across various spaces and that "in every encounter, she was warm, loving and resolute in her pursuit of justice for her community."

"Grand Chief Merrick was a true matriarch — a force of strength, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to her people," Fontaine said.

"She embodied leadership in its most powerful form, inspiring countless others with her grace, resilience, and fierce dedication."

The flags near the Manitoba Legislative Building were lowered to half-mast in recognition of Merrick on Friday. (Travis Golby/CBC)

Seeing Merrick make history as the first woman elected as AMC's grand chief was "one of the most deeply moving moments in my life" and "a milestone that resonated with us all," she said.

"Her legacy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those she touched and led with courage and compassion."

Wayne Ewasko, the interim leader of the Opposition Manitoba Progressive Conservatives, said in a social media post he was "shocked and saddened" by the news of Merrick's death.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham called Merrick "a remarkable, remarkable leader."

Speaking to reporters Friday, he praised her "dedication to justice, to families, to First Nations community members, and to making sure that the people that she represented would have a better life and a stronger future."

David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Métis Federation, said in a statement he was friends with Merrick for many years.

Chartrand said Merrick always had a smile and warm welcome for anyone she met, and was a consummate professional, a strong communicator and a passionate advocate for her people.

He said he last saw Merrick at an event Thursday night, where he gave her a hug, wished her well and said he'd see her soon.

"She will be sadly missed by many," Chartrand's statement said. "Our prayers go out to her and her family, I know she'll be in her new home soon, probably still championing the causes she cared about so deeply."

'A tireless advocate'

Condolences also poured in from federal politicians on Friday.

Federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, who is also the MP for the Winnipeg riding of Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, said he was shocked and "incredibly saddened" to hear about Merrick's death, in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

"She was a tireless advocate for First Nations in Manitoba and an excellent Grand Chief," the post said. "Her spirit and legacy is an example to us all."

Minister of Crown-Indigenous relations Gary Anandasangaree also called Merrick a "fierce advocate."

And Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu said in a post that Merrick "inspired generations of young women to stand up and use their voice for change."

Tributes also came from various organizations and agencies, including the Manitoba RCMP.

Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy extend his condolences in a statement and said he worked closely with Merrick when he was in the North District and she was chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation.

Merrick championed the creation of the Joint Action Circle, an Indigenous-led, survivor-centric group meant to help the RCMP prioritize areas of concern to the Indigenous community, especially relating to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, said McMurchy.

"Grand Chief Merrick also worked with the RCMP on our reconciliation journey," he said. "She really taught me the meaning of nothing about us without us, and she was always willing to share her perspective, her wisdom, and her experience."

Manitoba's chief justices and chief judge also said in a joint statement that Merrick brought forward systemic issues and engaged openly with the courts to "carve a new path forward together."

"We will deeply miss her wisdom and compassion and more importantly we will miss her," the statement said.