Chief Dr. Stan Bird of Peguis First Nation has publicly endorsed Jennifer Flett as a candidate in the upcoming The Pas-Kameesak provincial by-election, set for July 21, 2026. The endorsement was shared through a statement on the official Peguis First Nation Facebook page, where the Chief encouraged eligible voters to support Flett for the vacant seat.
The by-election was called after the passing of NDP MLA Amanda Lathlin in March 2026. Lathlin was Manitoba’s first First Nations woman elected to the legislature and had represented the area since 2015. Jennifer Flett, a former Vice Chief and Councillor of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, secured the Manitoba NDP nomination on June 22, 2026 after a contested nomination process. Flett has also worked as a technician with the Treaty Five Administration Office and with the Correctional Service of Canada.
The Pas-Kameesak riding takes in parts of northern Manitoba, including The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation, as well as Interlake communities like Peguis First Nation and Pinaymootang First Nation. Peguis First Nation is the largest First Nation in Manitoba, with over 10,000 members. Chief Bird, who won his position in April 2023 by defeating long-time incumbent Glenn Hudson by 440 votes, is a registered clinical and school psychologist.
Four candidates are competing in the by-election: Jennifer Flett for the NDP, Edna Nabess for the Progressive Conservatives, Dan Quesnel for the Liberal Party, and Wally Daudrich for the Keystone Party. The riding has been an NDP stronghold for nearly six decades, with the PCs last holding the constituency in 1969. More than 9,800 voters were registered in the last provincial election, and advance voting began on July 11, 2026.
