Kinew, cabinet sworn in today

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This article was published 18/10/2023 (732 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE first First Nations premier of a Canadian province — and his cabinet — will be sworn in today.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew will officially become Manitoba’s 25th premier, after taking the oath of office from Lt. Gov. Anita Neville and former senator Murray Sinclair, the first Indigenous judge at the provincial court and Manitoba Court of King’s Bench levels.

The ceremony begins 10 a.m, inside the Leaf horticultural attraction at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg.

The event will be livestreamed (news.gov.mb.ca and youtube.com/ManitobaGovernment), but is not open to the public.

The new premier and cabinet will be sworn in 15 days after the governing Progressive Conservatives, led by Heather Stefanson, were voted out of office.

The NDP won a majority government, securing 34 of 57 electoral divisions, pushing the Tories (22) into the role of Opposition. The Liberals were reduced to one seat.

Today’s ceremony begins with the lighting of a qulliq (traditional Inuit lamp), followed by an opening prayer by Red Sucker Lake First Nation Chief Sam Knott.

The Norman Chief Memorial Dancers (which includes former NDP MLA and cabinet minister Kevin Chief) will perform traditional-style Métis dance and music.

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Long Plain Chief Kyra Wilson, who has been prominent in recent months as one of the leading voices calling for the search of Prairie Green Landfill for human remains, will give the land acknowledgement. War Lake Chief Betsy Kennedy will give the greeting.

Kinew will then be sworn in as premier, followed by the Dakota Hotain Singers performing Chief Song (written for this occasion). Kinew will be given a traditional war bonnet by Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Jennifer Bone and Canupawakpa Dakota Chief Lola Thunderchild.

Manitoba’s cabinet members will then be sworn in (it was not yet public how many cabinet ministers there will be) and the new premier will give a speech.

The ceremony will end with Dion Halcrow of Pimicikamak Cree Nation providing a closing prayer.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Kevin Rollason
Reporter

Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.

Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.