Government will have First Nations women in cabinet for 1st time in Manitoba’s history: Kinew | CBC News
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On a morning when Manitoba premier-designate Wab Kinew was praised by First Nation leaders, he pledged his government would make history by including First Nations women in its cabinet.
Kinew told the audience Tuesday at an Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs general assembly that his cabinet, which will be revealed Wednesday morning, will elevate their perspectives.
“You may not know this, but a First Nations woman has never sat at the cabinet table in Manitoba’s history for 153 years,” he said.
“Tomorrow, that will change,” Kinew said to applause, as he partially teased the makeup of his cabinet.
Kinew, who will make history himself as the first First Nations premier of a Canadian province, then addressed the female leaders who feted him with gifts at the AMC event, including moccasins and a quilted blanket.
“I think it’s very fitting that the First Nations women’s leadership, the women chiefs in Manitoba are up here and leading this procession, because what I want to commit to you is to listen to the voices of women — to listen to the voices of Anishinaabe kwewag [women] — and to have that reflected at our decision-making table and at every level of our government,” said Kinew, who is Anishinaabe.
‘Huge increase’ in First Nations voices
Kinew said people in the crowd may think they know which First Nations women will be promoted to his cabinet, but he joked they shouldn’t try guessing.
Ten of the 34 NDP MLAs elected on Oct. 3 are Indigenous — which is also a provincial record, Kinew said.
“There is a huge increase in the representation of people from the walks of life that you represent around this table,” Kinew told the First Nation leaders.
“I invite you to work together with us, to do good things together.”
Many of the First Nations leaders who took the microphone at the general assembly said Kinew’s accomplishment gives them a sense of pride.
WATCH | At least 2 First Nations women will be part of Wab Kinew’s cabinet:
Featured VideoManitoba’s premier-designate told the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs’ general assembly his government would be the first in the province’s history to have First Nation women around the cabinet table.
Derek Nepinak, chief of Minegoziibe Anishinabe (formerly known as Pine Creek First Nation), said his family has felt “captured within this public government system” for a long time, but he’s now starting to feel more sense of belonging in Manitoba.
“I know I, for one … [have] always been very much looking from the outside in, but this man’s great victory is causing me to reflect upon my own identity and where I stand,” Nepinak said.
“Maybe there is space for us in this Manitoba idea, as Indigenous people, as Anishinaabe people.”
In his own address, Kinew first began by speaking in Anishinaabemowin, before returning to English to stress that he owes his election victory to the people of the province, including those of First Nations ancestry.
As a kid, he said, he never could have imagined being part of a grand entry and a pipe ceremony with elders, nor being honoured by their gifts or words.
“What I would say in response is that I have nothing to give except my life in the service of the people of Manitoba,” he said.
“Anything that you’ve given me today, as the elders, I will pay back tenfold with our new government. Anything you have given to us today on behalf of the women, I will pay back 100 times when we’re sworn in, and anything that we did today for the young people of Manitoba, 1,000 times again we will pay it back by the way that we serve the people over the next four years.”
Kinew said in an interview following the assembly that his cabinet will include representation from different parts of the province and different walks of life, but he didn’t offer additional specifics.
He’s previously said his cabinet will be smaller than the 18-member inner circle his predecessor, Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson, struck earlier this year.
CBC will livestream Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony, starting at 10 a.m. CT.
Homegrown cannabis ban will remain for now
Meanwhile, Kinew said the province’s ban on homegrown non-medical cannabis, upheld by a judge last Friday, will remain in place, but that may change in the future.
In 2019, he voiced opposition to the province’s restriction, saying Manitoba should follow the federal government’s rules, which permit growing as many as four marijuana plants in a residence at one time.
Kinew said he’s “still thinking in that direction,” but “in terms of the first things we do in these first few months in office, it’s going to be focused on health care and lowering costs for the average family.”
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