Manitobans made history Tuesday night for electing an NDP government led by Wab Kinew, who is to become the first First Nations premier of a province in Canada.

Kinew was raised as a young boy on the Onigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario, later moving with his family to Winnipeg. His late father was not allowed to vote as a young man under Canadian law at the time.

害羞草研究所淭o witness this tonight, it害羞草研究所檚 really gratifying,害羞草研究所� Eric Robinson, a former Manitoba NDP cabinet minister and deputy premier, said in an interview.

害羞草研究所淚 think First Nations people, and Indigenous people in general across Canada, should feel proud of Manitoba. We害羞草研究所檝e demonstrated through perseverance, some hard work and participation in the mainstream Canadian politics, that it has paid off in a big way.害羞草研究所�

John Norquay was the first Indigenous person to serve as Manitoba害羞草研究所檚 premier. Norquay, who was M茅tis, became the province害羞草研究所檚 fifth premier in 1878.

While other M茅tis people in Manitoba have served in elected office, the province害羞草研究所檚 history with First Nations people holding elected office only goes back a few decades.

It wasn害羞草研究所檛 until the 害羞草研究所�50s and 害羞草研究所�60s that First Nations people were allowed to vote without conditions in provincial and federal elections.

Cadmus Delorme, a former chief of Cowessess First Nation in southeast Saskatchewan, said in a text message the 害羞草研究所渃eiling has been lifted害羞草研究所� for what Indigenous people can achieve.

害羞草研究所淚n 1960, Indigenous people were able to vote for the first time. (Kinew害羞草研究所檚) parents would remember that time,害羞草研究所� said Delorme, chair of the Residential School Documents Advisory Committee.

害羞草研究所淎s Indigenous people, we sometimes have to try twice as hard to succeed in Canada. It害羞草研究所檚 now time (Kinew) makes it normal for Indigenous people to be successful alongside Canadians.害羞草研究所�

Outgoing Manitoba Tory premier Heather Stefanson said during her concession speech that Kinew害羞草研究所檚 win must be acknowledged.

害羞草研究所淲ab, I hope that your win tonight inspires a future generation of Indigenous youth to get involved in our democratic process, not just here in Manitoba, but right across the country,害羞草研究所� she said.

Kinew studied economics in university then became a radio host on CBC. He was later hired by the University of Winnipeg as its first director of Indigenous inclusion.

He decided to run for the Manitoba New Democrats in 2016 and was elected in the NDP stronghold of Fort Rouge in Winnipeg.

During his victory speech Tuesday, Kinew said young Indigenous people and those of all backgrounds who are struggling can change their lives for the better.

害羞草研究所淏ut here害羞草研究所檚 the thing. You have to want it,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚f you want to leave the party lifestyle behind, it has to be you to make the decision. If you want to join the workforce, get a new career, it has to be you to take the first step. And if you害羞草研究所檙e dealing with some kind of illness and you want to find healing, it has to be you to decide to move forward.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 do that for you. A government can害羞草研究所檛 do that for you.害羞草研究所�

But he said the government can help, if someone takes that step.

害羞草研究所淪eek your vision. Seek your vision. Dreams come true.害羞草研究所�

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said Kinew害羞草研究所檚 win signifies a huge accomplishment.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a new chapter for First Nations in this province,害羞草研究所� said Grand Chief Cathy Merrick in a statement. 害羞草研究所淚 look forward to collaborating with the premier to address the needs of our member Nations.害羞草研究所�

Robinson said he was friends with Kinew害羞草研究所檚 late father, who passed on the importance of culture and language to Kinew as a boy.

害羞草研究所淚 have a lot of confidence that Wab will use that as he moves into the future,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淗e is a very good person. I害羞草研究所檓 really, very proud of what he has done.害羞草研究所�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2023.

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press