Kyra Wilson set to lead Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs after election victory

Kyra Wilson, newly elected grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, says she's up to the challenge of leading the organization that represents 63 First Nations in the province.

"I think everyone deserves the same opportunities. Everyone deserves the best. So I will always work hard no matter where you're located," Wilson said.

Wilson, 38, is a former chief of Long Plain First Nation and won last week's election on the first ballot with 37 of 61 votes. 

Betsy Kennedy, chief of War Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba who served as acting grand chief following the death of Cathy Merrick last September, said Merrick left a foundation for her vision of the AMC and she believes Wilson will follow Merrick's work.

"I want to be able to continue on with that work but I do have a vision that was given to me by the leadership, there is a directive there," Wilson said. 

"They shared with me many issues that need to be addressed."

Those issues include things like mental health, housing, infrastructure, and clean drinking water.

"To ensure our communities flourish, we need to make sure we have the financial resources in our nations and that's something I'm really working on," she said.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Wilson has her work cut out for her.

"Manitoba is a tough region. A region that's got the most First Nations people in the country. A region that's plagued by child welfare issues, housing disparities, water," she said.

"[There are] lots of issues in this province that Grand Chief Wilson will have to deal with." 

Work at home and work on a national and international level lies ahead for Wilson with tariffs from the Donald Trump administration that could come into effect in 30 days.

Woodhouse Nepinak said Wilson's role, in terms of dealing with AMC's interactions with its American contacts, is to balance and bring together diverse First Nations voices in Manitoba — something she said is not an easy task.