Grand Chief Cathy Merrick speaks to media in Winnipeg on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
WINNIPEG — Cathy Merrick, the first woman to hold the position of grand chief at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), has died suddenly.
Merrick collapsed while speaking with reporters outside the Winnipeg law courts on Friday. She had just been discussing the acquittal of corrections officer Robert Jeffrey Morden in connection with the 2021 death of William Ahmo, an inmate at Headingley jail. She had said she felt dizzy and quickly fell to the ground.
Fire and paramedic crews arrived, performed chest compressions and carried Merrick away on a stretcher. A Winnipeg Police Service detective was among those who rushed to assist Merrick after her collapse. She was transported to hospital by ambulance, where she was later pronounced dead.
Merrick had recently secured a full three-year term as grand chief in July, following her initial election in a byelection in 2022.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham offered his condolences and issued a statement Friday afternoon, reading in part: “Over the past two years, I had the privilege of working closely with Chief Merrick and always valued her wisdom and the heartfelt conversations we shared. She was not just a colleague but a friend. Her leadership, strength, and compassion touched many lives, and I know she will be deeply missed by her family, friends, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and Indigenous communities across the country.”
Before becoming grand chief, Merrick served as the chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, also known as Cross Lake First Nation, and later as a band councillor for the same community. She was involved in advocating for the rights and needs of Indigenous people, particularly focusing on issues like water quality and access.
Premier Wab Kinew also released a statement: “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.”
More to come…
