The community of Lacombe, Alberta, is mourning the death of Amber Boyd (Amber Dawn Boyd, née MacPherson), a respected Métis leader, artist and writer. According to obituary records, Boyd died on January 16, 2026; the Otipemisiwak Métis Government posted a remembrance on January 19, 2026.
Boyd served as District Captain for the Rocky View Métis District (District 4) under the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. She was elected as part of the first cohort of leaders in September 2023 and was widely regarded as a Knowledge Holder who advocated for Indigenous self-determination, community representation and environmental stewardship. Andrea Sandmaier, President of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, said, “Amber worked tirelessly to support the Citizens of the Rocky View Métis District. She was a force, a leader, an artist, a storyteller and she cared deeply for our Nation.”
Outside of her elected role, Boyd was known as a beadwork artist and writer. In her professional career she served as an executive director of a national charity supporting Indigenous students; professional listings associate her with the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation.
Born Amber Dawn MacPherson, Boyd lived with her family in Cochrane and carried strong family ties to the Lacombe area. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government and her family have asked the public to honor her contributions and allow space for private mourning. More details are available via the official obituary and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s remembrance post.
