2 Manitoba cabinet ministers honoured as history makers for First Nations women

Two members of the provincial government who are the first First Nations women to be appointed to cabinet were honoured Sunday.

Housing, Addictionsand Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine were presented with star blankets and gifts of moccasins and eagle feathers at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumujug Sunday in recognition of their important contributions to the community.

"This is truly an honour for both of us," Smith said during a speech at the event. "[I'm] really emotional today, never did I ever think that this would be something that I would ever see in my lifetime, let alone seeing my sister and I here today."

Fontaine and Smith made history Oct. 18 when they were sworn into their respective roles, making it the first time Manitoba's cabinet included two First Nations women.

Fontaine was first elected as MLA for the St. John's riding in 2016 while Smith became MLA for Point Douglas in 2017.

Members of the Indigenous community along with other NDP MLAs, friends and family were also in attendance for the honouring ceremony.

The star blanket is used to honour and celebrate an individual, bringing good dreams, prosperity and protection, according to the news release for the event.

It can represent legends, stories, events, and different perspectives of culture and heritage.

Smith said she feels blessed to be in her position and that she and Fontaineoften speak about what they've been through in their lives and what they see others going through.

She added thather position is something she takes as a "sacred responsibility."

"Everyone needs to be uplifted, we have hard days, we have good days, lets always acknowledge each and every one," she said. "Whether they're in these positions or not, everyone is doing whatever they can to do the work that they need to do."

Fontaine echoed Smith's comment on the sacred responsibility, also emphasizing the importance of being a woman in that role.

"I think it is something extraordinary to be lifted up and acknowledged as a matriarch by the matriarchs in our community," she said.

Fontainestarts every day in her office by smudging, calling itan act of reclamation by"taking up space in a building that was designed not for us."

"It was designed to make sure that we were not a part of that," she said. "And now look at 2023who walks in those halls, who takes up those offices, who takes up that space in that chamber and who brings our people with us every single day that we're in that space."