Solemn procession through downtown Winnipeg leads to wake for Cathy Merrick, late grand chief of AMC
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs leader lay in state at Manitoba Legislature earlier Wednesday
A solemn procession,led by a motorcadefollowed closely by a handful of people on horses, Indigenous leaders and mourners, made its way from the Manitoba Legislature through downtown Winnipeg on Wednesday evening, en route to a wake to honour Cathy Merrick, the late grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
Earlier Wednesday, Merrick lay in state at the Manitoba Legislaturethefirst time a woman has been given that honour,and the first time it has happened since 2013.
Merrick, 63, died suddenly on Sept. 6 after collapsing outside theLaw Courts building in Winnipeg while speaking to reporters.
After lying in state on Wednesday, to give people in Winnipeg an opportunity to pay respects, awhite casket bearing Merrick's body was carried out of the Manitoba Legislative Buildingbypallbearers from the RCMP and Winnipeg Police Service,led bysingers carrying one of her headdresses.
WATCH | Procession leads from Manitoba Legislature to Convention Centre:
The casket was taken to hearse, which led a procession to the RBC Convention Centre, where a wake for Merrick was to be held Wednesday night.
The procession includeda riderless horse adorned with a starblanket,symbolizing a fallen leader.
On Wednesday morning,singers andpallbearers from the RCMP and Winnipeg Police Service escortedthewhite casket up the steps of the Manitoba Legislature, where Merrick's bodyarrived to lie in state for the day.
WATCH | Grand chief's casket arrives atlegislature:
The song from the group of First Nations women one of whom carried Merrick's headdressechoedthrough the broad foyer and grand staircase of the buildingas they headed the procession.
Immediately behind the casket walked Merrick's husband, Todd, and the couple's threechildren, along with other family members, a number of First Nations chiefs and other dignitaries.
It was a slow, sorrowful walk as thecasket was taken to the ChandelierRoom on the second floor for asacred private ceremony.
Public viewing was scheduled for noon until5 p.m.
There has been an outpouring of grief for Merrick, who was elected grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in October 2022 becoming the first woman to lead the advocacy group in its nearly 35-year history. Shewas re-elected to the post in July 2024.
Before that, she spent more than a decade as a band councillor at Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) and became the community's chiefin 2013 onlythe second woman to do so.
A book of condolences for the public to signhas beenplaced at the base of the grand staircase in the Manitoba Legislative Buildingand flags at the building have been lowered to half-mast.
Merrick's death was also marked by a vigil outside the Winnipeg courthouse on Tuesday night, and a sunrise ceremony earlier Wednesday.
Former Manitoba premier Gary Doer, whoshowed up atthe legislature on Wednesday to sign the book,said Merrick was a person of integrity and leadership.
"She had it all and she lived it all, and that's why there's so many people grieving her passing," he said.
Pimicikamak ChiefDavid Moniascalled Wednesday's event at the legislature "a big deal" for not only his community, but fordiplomacybetween the province and First Nations.
"That's what Cathy was aboutshe was about unity. She was a big proponent for treaty rights and relationship building," he said, noting it wasPremier Wab Kinewwho approachedPimicikamak's council to see ifthey would consider having Merrick lie in state.
"That's something we hope to see more of, where we have better relations with our provinces, our counterparts.That's what she wanted to do, is bring everybody together. And even in death she's bringing everybody together, setting aside our differences to celebrate a woman, a mom, a wifeand one of our own.
"It's a big honour for us."
Monias, who first nominated Merrick as a candidate for AMC grand chief, said sheheld all of the qualities of a strong leader. She always reached for a handshake or embrace "to make sure people felt respected," he said.
"She was fair and honourable. That's the way our leadership has been in our community. We're taught that be hard on the issues but be soft on the people."
When Merrick took on an issue with other governments, shewas there to make sure it was a win-win situation, not one where anyone came up short, said Monias "to uplift our people to the same parity of services as everybody else."
'Carried a lot of love'
Grand Chief Garrison Settee ofManitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, thenorthern Manitoba First Nations advocacy organization, said having Merrick lie in state at the legislature "validates her as a leader."
"I think beyond being the grand chief and beyond being a leader, she was a woman that carried a lot of love and compassion, and she cared for everyone," he said.
"One of the things that I keep hearing is that she made you feel special whenever you were around her, and she made you feel like that you were equal to her, regardless of if you were living on the street or in a high-profile position. Everybody was equal to her."
WATCH | Lategrand chief 'cared for everyone':
Louise Menow came out of the legislature after viewingMerrick, then picked up a drum and sang.
"In my culture it's a sign of respect, it's a sign of honour," she said, noting sheimmediately felt like crying when she saw Merrick's body. But then "something came over me," and there was a calmness, she said.
"It just felt very humbling to be able to see her at rest."
Menow said she came to know Merrickduring various walks, gatherings and protests led by the former grand chief. Menow said at one point,she wasabout to refer to Merrick as a friend, when the grand chief stopped her.
"She said, 'don't call me that. I'm your family now.'"
The two were also together inMerrick's final moments outside the courthouse. Merrick had been 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.
Menow said Ahmo was one of her best friends.
Shortly after beginning to talk about another topic, Merrick collapsed.
"I was just grateful to hear her last testimony in regards to the verdict. I'm honoured to have been able to be in her presence in the last minutes of her life," Menow said.
"She fought hard for our people. She's just someone I want to be like."
Noreen Barlas, who isoriginally from Thompson, also came to the legislatureto pay her respects to Merrick.
She met Merrickover a decade ago, when Barlaswas an educator studying youth suicide for a graduate program.
During that time, Barlas went toPimicikamakand developed a bond with Merrick, who invitedher over for pickerel cheeks. The two remained close up until Merrick's death, she said.
"She's someone that embodies what a matriarch is in any society," said Barlas.
Following the wake at the RBC Convention Centre, Merrick's bodywill bereturned to her home community ofPimicikamakfor a wake service at the arena on Thursday and Friday.
A last viewing will take place on Saturday, ahead of the funeral service and interment later that same day at the Cross Lake Cemetery.
WATCH | Manitobans pay tribute to Cathy Merrick:
With files from CBC's Ian Froese and The Canadian Press
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