AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick is the Decided Spokesperson on Landfill Searches
December 14, 2022
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) releases this statement following a collaborative decision to name Grand Chief Cathy Merrick as the Spokesperson for the landfill searches. Chief Kyra Wilson, Long Plain First Nation, City of Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, the MMIWG2S+ Implementation Committee, and the Winnipeg Police Service met several times this past week on the logistics and coordination for the searches in the Prairie Green and Brady landfill sites.
Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said, “after speaking with Chief Kyra Wilson and members of the MMIWG2S+ Implementation Committee, it was clear that we need to work together collaboratively on this emergency effort and to speak with one voice. First Nation leadership has asked that I be the main point of contact when dealing with governments and media going forward. As such, we ask that any meeting and interview requests come through my office.”
Chief Kyra Wilson, Long Plain First Nation, stated, “we need to ensure that First Nations are leading this process given that Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are from Long Plain First Nation. That is why I have asked AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick to be the main contact from now on in organizing meetings, responding to media requests, and putting forth correspondence and documentation to governments. Collaboration is key at this critical point in hopes of finding Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, and we appreciate all the support from the many different organizations to date.”
For years, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has been working on MMIWG2S+ issues and working with impacted families through the First Nations Family Advocate Office (FNFAO). FNFAO continues to witness the overlap of MMIWG and child welfare through the ongoing requests for support received from families who are involved with the Child and Family Services system and who have loved ones who are either missing or lost their life. The FNFAO coordinates various meetings with key stakeholders, advocates on behalf of families to seek answers regarding their loved ones and provides multiple healing supports. The FNFAO continues to support First Nations families impacted by MMIWG and is working to collect the resources needed to establish an MMIWG advocacy unit.
If you need support or someone to talk to regarding this manner, please call the national, independent toll-free, 24/7 support line at 1-844-413-6649 to speak to a counsellor. The service is available in multiple languages, including English, Anishnaabemowin, Cree, Inuktitut, and French.
For more information, please contact:
Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email: media@manitobachiefs.com
About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of 62 of the 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 151,000 First Nation citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe (Ojibway), Nehetho / Ininew (Cree), Anishininew (Ojibwe-Cree), Denesuline (Dene) and Dakota Oyate (Dakota) people.