AMC Welcomes Appointment of New Chief of Winnipeg Police Service, Calls for Stronger Partnership on First Nations Safety
March 7, 2025
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) acknowledges the appointment of Gene Bowers as the new Chief of the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) and expresses hope for a renewed relationship between the WPS and First Nations Leadership.
First Nations citizens continue to be disproportionately affected by systemic issues in policing and public safety, including over-policing, racial profiling, and the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). As Chief Bowers assumes leadership, AMC calls on him to reinvigorate the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AMC and WPS and take meaningful action on First Nations safety and justice.
“We recognize this transition in leadership as an opportunity to build a safer and more just future for First Nations citizens in Winnipeg,” said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. “It is essential that First Nations voices are included in the development of policing policies and strategies, and that a commitment to truth, reconciliation, and justice guides the path forward.”
AMC calls on Chief Bowers and the WPS to engage meaningfully with First Nations Leadership, families, and community members to foster greater accountability, trust, and culturally responsive policing. Effective public safety requires strong partnerships, a commitment to addressing systemic discrimination, and a shared vision for communities where all people feel protected and respected.
“We are hopeful that Chief Bowers will work alongside First Nations to strengthen relationships, address longstanding challenges, and ensure the safety and dignity of our people,” added Grand Chief Wilson. “We will be seeking dialogue to ensure that our concerns are heard, and that First Nations-led solutions are part of the way forward.”
AMC looks forward to seeing how Chief Bowers will implement his plan to tackle violent crime in the city and urges him to prioritize community-driven approaches that honour the rights, voices, and lived experiences of First Nations citizens.
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 all 63 First Nations in Manitoba, with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.