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Kyra Wilson swept to victory in the by-election for Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs on Wednesday.
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The vote, taken during the AMC Chiefs Assembly, saw Wilson secure 37 of the 61 ballots cast. Two candidates from communities in Manitoba’s north, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation band councillor Bava Dhillon and former York Factory First Nation chief Leroy Constant, contested the race as well as former Peguis First Nation chief Glenn Hudson,.
Wilson, 38, succeeds Cathy Merrick, who died suddenly last September. The former chief of Lang Plains First Nation, Wilson was close to Merrick and worked with the late Grand Chief to pressure the provincial government to conduct a search of the Prairie Green landfill for remains of two women from her community who were murdered by serial killer Jeremy Skibicki.
“I really want to say thank you. I will make you proud,” Wilson told the Assembly after the swearing-in ceremony. “I will do the best that I can to bring forward our issues. I know there’s many issues, but we will tackle every single one no matter what it takes. I commit to that.”
A news release stated, “The AMC congratulates Kyra Wilson, the newly elected Grand Chief, and looks forward to their leadership in advancing First Nations priorities.”
“On behalf of the province of Manitoba, I want to congratulate her,” Premier Wab Kinew told a press conference. “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.”
The AMC is comprised of 63 First Nations communities representing about 172,000 citizens.
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