AMC lists candidates seeking grand chief post

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has announced the names ofcandidateshoping to be the next leader of the organization

The candidates are competing in abyelectioncalledto replace former AMC grand chief Arlen Dumas, whowas stripped of his title earlier this year over allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

The candidates are:

• Eugene Eastman.
• Jennifer Flett.
• George Kemp.
• Cathy Merrick.
• Cora Morgan.
• Sheila North.
• Darrell N. Shorting.

A vote is planned for Oct. 26, the second day of the assembly'sthree-day conventionat the Garden Hotel Airport in Long Plain First Nation, the AMC said in a news release on Tuesday.

An all-candidates forum is planned for the day before the vote.

The list was supposed to be released Monday, but that afternoon the AMCissued a statement saying it had been postponed to Wednesday"to ensure procedural fairness," though no explanation of that was provided.

Dumas, first elected AMC grand chief in 2017, was re-electedin July 2021 at the AMC'sannual general assembly. His two opponents at the time wereSheila North and David Harper.

The AMC represents 62 of the 63 First Nations in the province, advocatingon behalf of more than 151,000 people.