Nahanni Fontaine

Minister of Families Minister responsible for Accessibility Minister responsible for Gender Equity Mandate letter to the Minister of Families

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Biography

Nahanni Fontaine was first elected as the MLA for St. Johns in 2016. She is a member of the Sagkeeng Anishnaabe First Nation, holds a bachelor of arts in environmental studies and international development from the University of Winnipeg, as well as a master's degree in native studies, women's studies and critical theory from the University of Manitoba.

Fontaine is globally recognized for her expertise in missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals (MMIWG2S), Indigenous women's rights, Indigenous-police relations, and gender equity. She served as the official opposition critic for justice, families, as well as spokesperson for MMIWG2S and veterans affairs, and was the second woman to ever hold the position of official opposition house leader. As an MLA, Fontaine has passed legislation to honour MMIWG2S families, prohibit employers from forcing women workers to wear unsafe footwear, recognize the work of animal rescue shelters and incorporate more inclusive language into Manitoba's court system.

She is a dedicated mother to her two sons and her fur baby.

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