Wab Kinew has been elected as the premier of Manitoba, making him the first First Nations leader to hold this prestigious position. The 41-year-old’s victory came as his left-of-center New Democratic Party (NDP) secured a majority of 34 seats out of 57 in recent elections.
During his victory speech, Kinew expressed his commitment to address critical issues, stating, “Manitoba did something more progressive than any of those big cities ever did. We elected a strong team of New Democrats to fix healthcare and make your life more affordable.” But why is Wab Kinew’s win significant, and what is his background?
Who is Wab Kinew?
Wab Kinew hails from an Anishinaabe chief’s family from the Onigaming First Nations land in Ontario. As a child, he relocated to Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, where his father worked as a professor at the University of Winnipeg.
What is the First Nations?
The First Nations is one of Canada’s three Indigenous groups, alongside Inuits and Metis. Canada’s Indigenous population stands at 1,807,250, constituting 5 percent of the national population. Among Indigenous populations, there are Inuits (70,540), Metis (624,220), and First Nations (1,048,405). The term “First Nation” became more prevalent to refer to the latter group in the 1970s.
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Canada is home to over 630 First Nations communities, representing more than 50 Nations and 50 Indigenous languages.
Is Kinew the First Indigenous Premier?
While Wab Kinew is not the first Indigenous premier in Canada’s history, he holds the distinction of being the first First Nations politician to lead the province. Manitoba’s first Indigenous premier was John Norquay from the Metis community, who assumed office in 1878.
Wab Kinew’s election as Manitoba’s 25th premier holds immense significance, particularly for the First Nations community, as Indigenous Canadians were not granted the right to vote until 1960. It was not until 1982 that several Aboriginal rights were fully recognized. Manitoba boasts the highest proportion of Indigenous people in Canada, with 164,289 registered individuals and 63 different First Nations communities in the province, as per the 2021 census.
Before his political career, Kinew was part of hip-hop groups like Slangblossom and the Dead Indians and had worked as a journalist and university administrator. In his victory speech, he noted the progress made, emphasizing, “That is a testament to our province and country moving forward. Long way to go, but you cannot tell me that we haven’t made progress. I was given a second chance in life.”
Wab Kinew’s election campaign focused on healthcare, with promises to reopen three recently closed emergency rooms for Manitobans and establish a new cancer care center. Additionally, he pledged to invest in more social housing.
