Vigil at law courts, public book of condolences at legislature honour late AMC grand chief

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Peggy

Dignitaries and members of the public came to the Manitoba Legislature Tuesday to sign a book of condolences and pay their respects to Cathy Merrick, while hundreds later gathered outside the Winnipeg law courts to honour the late grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.

Merrick, 63, died suddenly on Friday. She was speaking to reporters outside the law courts that afternoon when she collapsed and was rushed to hospital.

The book, on a table next to photographs of Merrick, sits at the foot of the grand staircase in the Manitoba Legislative Building.

A number of dignitaries signed it Tuesday morning, before the public was invited to do so starting at noon. The doors will be open to the public throughout the week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

And on Tuesday night, hundreds of people held candles during a vigil in Merrick’s memory held outside the law courts.

There were hugs, tears as prayers made in her honour, as the sound of drums and songs filled air rich with the smell of sweetgrass.

WATCH | Tuesday night vigil honours late grand chief:

Hundreds gather at vigil for late AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick

58 minutes ago

Duration 1:53

A vigil outside the law courts building in Winnipeg on Tuesday night honoured the late Cathy Merrick. The grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs died suddenly on Friday after collapsing outside the law courts.

On Wednesday, Merrick’s body will be taken to the Manitoba Legislature, where it will lie in state. She will be the first woman given the honour, and the first person to lie in state at the legislature since 2013.

Her body will arrive at the building at 10 a.m. Wednesday, where it will lie in state for public viewing in the ceremonial room on the second floor from noon to 5 p.m. Photography will be prohibited.

A woman wears a First Nations headdress and sits at a table with microphones. — Merrick, seen in a file photo from 2023, died suddenly on Friday. She was 63. (CBC)

“I think lying in state here is a great honour for her and well deserved,” said Audrey Khan, who was among the first members of the public to sign the book of condolences on Tuesday.

She met Merrick at the Brady landfill in Winnipeg during one of the gatherings to urge the city and province to search for remains of Indigenous women. A search of the Prairie Green landfill, north of the city, is set to start next month.

“I was very sad to hear of her passing. I thought she was a woman of integrity and honour, and it’s a sad loss. It was an honour to meet her,” Khan said.

Following the viewing at the legislative building, Merrick’s body will be taken for a wake service from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the RBC Convention Centre.

It will then be returned to her home community of Pimicikamak Cree Nation (also known as Cross Lake) for a wake service at the arena on Thursday and Friday.

A last viewing will take place on Saturday, ahead of the funeral service interment at the Cross Lake Cemetery.

A bald man in a suit sits at a table and signs the page of a book — Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham signs the book of condolences on Tuesday. (Jeff Stapleton/CBC)

Lying in state is a rare honour in Manitoba. Five others have preceded Merrick, a provincial spokesperson told CBC:

There is no established provincial guideline to decide who receives a provincial lying-in-state — it is at the discretion of the premier of the day, the provincial spokesperson said in an email to CBC News.

Mike Monias, who also signed the book of condolences on Tuesday, said he admired Merrick “for her advocacy for women and for those who did not have a voice.”

He called her a genuine, kind, caring woman who fought for change and the betterment of Indigenous people. As such, he thought it was slightly ironic that she will be lying in state at the legislature.

“This is the very place where things have to change. Hopefully her presence here will influence that change,” he said.

“We can only hope and pray to the Creator that someone like her comes and replaces her, because it’s people like that we need to make progress in this province for justice.”

Manitobans sign book of condolence for Grand Chief Cathy Merrick

5 hours ago

Duration 2:11

Manitobans have been coming into the Manitoba Legislative Building to sign a book of condolence for Grand Chief Cathy Merrick.The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief died suddenly on Friday. Dignitaries from the Lieutenant Governor to the Premier to Winnipeg’s mayor signed the book first thing Tuesday.