Miles Morrisseau
ICT
Wab Kinew, Anishinaabe, the newly elected premier of Manitoba continued to make history during his official swearing in ceremony on Wednesday, bringing in the first Indigenous women into cabinet and appointing the first Black deputy premier of the province.
Kinew named Nahanni Fontaine as families minister and as minister responsible for gender equity and accessibility. Bernadette Smith was named the new minister of housing, addictions and homelessness.
Uzoma Asagwara is the new deputy premier and health minister. It is a heavy load since health care is the main platform of the New Democratic Party campaign.
Kinew, who swept to a majority victory in the Manitoba provincial election on Oct. 3, had already made history as the first First Nation provincial premier in Canadian history. Kinew, leader of the New Democratic Party, crushed the governing Progressive Conservatives and leader Heather Stepheson.
“In our province, today, a new era begins. And today, we get to work for you, the people of Manitoba,” Kinew said following his oath of allegiance, wearing a ceremonial headdress in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park. “We’re committed to putting you, the people of Manitoba. First, we will devote every single day of the next four years to serve you, and the future generations who will someday walk these lands.
“I want to thank you for the trust that you have placed in us. You have given us a mandate to fix health care, and to lower costs for your family,” he added. “You also came together on Election Day, to embrace a message of unity and to reject division. And I am so proud of the message that it sends to young people in Manitoba.”
(Related: ‘Orange Wave’ elects Canada’s first-ever First Nations provincial premier)
Kinew’s party won 34 seats and the incumbent PC’s were reduced to 22 seats and the Liberals to one. Manitoba has been a two party state with the electorate swinging to the right with the Progressive Conservatives and to the left with the New Democratic Party. The Liberal Party, which has routinely governed the country since confederation, is a non-factor in the province.
“Today, Manitoba now has a Jewish lieutenant governor. An Anishinaabe premier, a gender balanced cabinet, and a government MLA team that represents many walks of life from so many regions of this great province,” Kinew said. “I believe that this sends a message to every young person in Manitoba, that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, and no matter which barriers you have to overcome on your life’s path, that the road to success is open for you.”
It was a ceremony like no other in Canadian history. There would be no swearing with hand over heart and the other on a bible for the top job, although that was allowed for any minister who swore into cabinet, but for Canada’s first First Nations premier, he swore his oath with his pipe in his hand. Other delegates swore upon a Bible and were given respect for their individual spirituality. Even with the Indigenous prayers in one of the speakers, the words of the church were shared.
The ceremony was heavy on Indigenous representation, in addition to greetings from all seven Indigenous nations in Manitoba, it included specific representation for Metis, Inuit and First Nations. The morning kicked off with lighting of the qulliq, which is the traditional fire of the Inuit. This was followed by three Metis dance routines by the Norman Chief Memorial Dancers that had the packed house clapping and stomping along.
Justice Murray Sinclair presided over the ceremony, the former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called the moment “a true act of reconciliation.”
“Today is going to lead to the next phase ultimately is going to lead to a relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in which we are able to show a true respect to all those who are here and those who come here,” Sinclair said, “because for too long now a situation of oppression has occurred in this province that has resulted in our people, being belittled, feeling belittled and denied their rights, but that I believe is all going to change.”
A turning point in the election was when the PC decided to make searching the Winnipeg landfill for the remains of Indigenous women targeted by a serial killer as a component in their election platform. As the polling continued to point to an NDP government, the ruling PC’s made a decision that their “Hail Mary” pass would be to make their decision not to search as a hallmark of their governance. Instead of firing up their campaign, it fired up the opposition. It would lead to a record breaking turnout at the advance polls and a majority victory for Kinew and the NDP at the end of the campaign. Despite that issue resonating with voters and Indigenous voters in particular there was no mention of searching the landfill.
The NDP had huge support from the province’s rural and isolated communities, War Lake Chief Betsy Kennedy gave remarks as a senior Indigenous leader with over 17 years as chief in one of Manitoba’s most remote communities.
“We expect inclusion and conversation when it impacts our rights and visioning as a Manitoba, where issues are no longer dividing us but leading to meaningful strides and healing for our people,” said Chief Kennedy. “His aspirations for this province aligned with the dreams and stories shared in our circles since the province’s inception.”
There were numerous references to Louis Riel, Metis, as founder of the province, but also to the fact that Indigenous people have been ignored for more than a century since then. “There were times when our voices were absent from the conversation. Today, we witnessed the power of change. As we’ve seen one of our own arise to position of real influence,” Kennedy stated with pride.
“True greatness arises when we all work together. And as we move forward, hand in hand, I am confident that under Premier Kinew’s leadership and his cabinet. What has happened here in Manitoba will inspire generations to come. You have inspired our youth today. And I’m sure that they will follow in your footsteps.”
Actor Adam Beach, Anishinaabe, was in attendance for the swearing in and when asked why he came he said it was personal. “Well, the first thing is because of family,” Beach told ICT, “Wab Kinew is my cousin through marriage with my cousin, Lisa Monkman. And for me, it’s honoring the family, foremost, but I have known Wab from when he was younger, and Wab has always had intelligence, he was always a smart guy. And I’m glad that he has taken up a position to be that leader.”
Beach is home visiting family from his second home in Los Angeles because the actor’s strike has put a hold on his projects. He believes like so many who came to witness this historic event that not only does this mark a new day moving forward but also that Kinew is the right person for the job.
“It requires a different way of thinking and communicating and dealing with people that have been suppressed,” Beach said, “The most important thing is when Wab became Premier, it made me look at myself at how much I don’t see the growth of our peoples. I’ve never imagined a Native person to be premier.
“Now we have leadership in a government system that now will work with us in the traditional way, the respectful way that he leads our nations as individuals. You know, it’s powerful, man!”
Chief Kennedy, one of the province’s longest serving Indigenous leaders, believes that what happened in the province is a lesson for the whole county. “Together, we can forge a path that not only fulfills our dreams, but also sets an example for all of Canada,” Kennedy said. “It tells the world that voices of our people matter.”
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