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

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

Merrick, 63, died suddenly on Friday.She was speaking to reporters outside thelaw courts that afternoon when shecollapsed and was rushed to hospital.

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

Anumber 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 weekfrom 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

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

There werehugs,tears as prayers made in her honour, as the sound of drums and songs filled airrich with the smell of sweetgrass.

WATCH | Tuesday night vigil honours late grand chief:

Hundreds gather at vigil for late AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick

25 days 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 itwill lie in state. She will be the first woman given the honour, and the first person to lie in state at the legislaturesince 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.

"I think lying in state here is a great honour for her and well deserved,"saidAudrey 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 awake servicefrom 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. atthe RBC Convention Centre.

It will then be returned toher home community ofPimicikamak 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.

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

• John Christian Schultz (1896),lieutenant-governorofManitoba from 1888-95.
• James Albert Manning Aikens(1929),leader of theManitoba Conservative Partyin 1915 and lieutenant-governor from 1916-26.
• Sir Hugh John Macdonald (1929), leader of theManitoba Conservative Party from 1899-1900 and premier from JanuaryOctober 1900.
• Sir Rodmond Roblin (1937), premier from1900-15.
• Elijah Harper (2013), MLA from 198192 and MP from199397.

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 agenuine, kind, caring woman who fought for change and the betterment of Indigenous people. As such, hethought it was slightlyironic 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

25 days 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.