Kyra Wilson wins vote to become new leader of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

WINNIPEG — Newly elected Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson has vowed to offer the same support to First Nations leaders in the province that her predecessor once gave her in 2022.

Wilson, who was then chief of the Long Plain First Nation in southern Manitoba, had called former grand chief Cathy Merrick asking for help advocating for the search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two slain women from the community after police refused to conduct a search citing safety concerns.

The two leaders would eventually stand side by side at the forefront of a movement that saw Canada-wide protests calling for political action to bring home the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran.

“I had reached out to her for her support … and she didn’t hesitate. She immediately said that she would support me in the work that I needed to do,” Wilson recalled.

“That’s what I want to do for our leadership today … I will make sure that they feel supported every single day.”

Wilson, 38, was elected the new grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs during a byelection on Wednesday prompted by the sudden death of Merrick last fall.

She won by a landslide during the first round of voting by securing 37 of the 61 votes. Former York Factory First Nation chief Leroy Constant and Sapotaweyak Cree Nation band councillor Bava Dhillon, the two northern candidates, tied for second place with 10 votes each. Former Peguis First Nation chief Glenn Hudson received four votes.

Following her win, Wilson was wrapped in a traditional blanket while First Nations chiefs formed a circle around her. Wilson stood with her eyes closed, at one point wiping tears from her eyes.

A traditional honour song was played while dozens of leaders, community members and dignitaries formed a line to congratulate Wilson.

Premier Wab Kinew offered words of encouragement at an unrelated press conference Wednesday afternoon.

“On behalf of the province of Manitoba, I want to congratulate her. This is good news for all Manitobans because we’re going to be able to work to advance living conditions and economic opportunity for First Nations people in Manitoba,” he said.

“When that happens, it benefits all of us.”

Kinew met with Wilson and the families of Harris and Myran shortly after his NDP government came into power in 2023, and made a commitment to search the Prairie Green Landfill.

At the time, Wilson said the conversation was a welcome move following the previous Progressive Conservative government’s opposition to a search, and their subsequent choice to highlight their refusal during the provincial election.

Jeremy Skibicki was later convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of Harris, Myran and two others — Rebecca Contois, whose partial remains were found in a different landfill last year, and an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders are calling Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.

A search of Prairie Green began late last year.

Wilson said she will continue the work Merrick started, as well as advocate on the issues that matter to First Nations leaders in the province, including resource opportunities, economic sovereignty and support for mental health and addictions.

Betsy Kennedy, chief of War Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba and the assembly’s acting grand chief, said much work needs to be done to advocate for equitable resources for children and youth.

“The next grand chief will listen to our leadership. Right now it’s Jordan’s Principle,” Kennedy said, referencing the federal program that is supposed to ensure First Nations children receive timely access to educational and health supports.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee said Wilson has big shoes to fill, but that the chiefs respect her ability to stand up and command attention.

“(Wilson) will make her own steps,” he said.

“She’ll make her own way as a grand chief. She will be able to take them in the direction that they need to go.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2025.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press