Cathy Merrick, the first female grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and a prominent voice on many First Nations issues, has died after collapsing outside the law courts building in Winnipeg on Friday.
Merrick was speaking to media about a court case when she collapsed. She was given CPR before being rushed away in an ambulance.
Several officials, including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, expressed condolences and paid tribute to Merrick on Friday.
In a media release, the Premier said, “Lisa and I have known Cathy for years – as a grand chief, First Nations leader, sundancer and kookum. She was the first woman to be elected as grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs – something that made so many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in our province proud.
She 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.
I will miss her wise counsel, her drive to get things done and most of all – her hugs. No matter how challenging or difficult any political conversation was, Cathy Merrick always greeted you and said farewell by hugging you.
Searching the landfill for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, and other important steps to improve the lives of First Nations people in our province, we rededicate these efforts to the memory of the late Cathy Merrick. 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.”
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.
The flags outside the Legislative Building have been lowered to half-mast in recognition of Grand Chief Cathy Merrick.
(With files from CBC Winnipeg)
