Bernadette Smith joins growing list of Indigenous, female MLAs at swearing-in
Laura Glowacki | CBC News | Posted: June 26, 2017 9:06 PM | Last Updated: June 26, 2017
New MLA for Point Douglas promises to take Progressive Conservatives to task in legislature
After a prayer spoken by fellow Indigenous New Democrat Wab Kinew and a drum circle performance, Bernadette Smith was sworn in Monday afternoon as the newest member of Manitoba's legislative assembly.
Smith held an eagle feather as she pledged allegiance to the Queen during the ceremony.
The missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls advocate is one of a short but growing list of Indigenous women who now sit in Manitoba's legislature.
"I just want to acknowledge how far we've come, but how far we still have to go," Smith said after her swearing-in ceremony.
"Prior to the 1950s, Wab wouldn't be here saying a prayer, he wouldn't be speaking in his language, we wouldn't have this drum group here."
Along with Smith, there are four other Indigenous female MLAs in Manitoba — fellow NDP caucus members Amanda Lathlin and Nahanni Fontaine as well as Manitoba Liberal leadership candidate Judy Klassen and Progressive Conservative MLA Colleen Mayer who is Métis.
Smith won the NDP stronghold of Point Douglas June 13 in a byelection after Kevin Chief vacated the seat.
In her a speech Monday, she said Manitoba New Democrats are gearing up to be a stronger force of opposition to the governing Progressive Conservatives.
"We're going to take this government to task," Smith said. "They ran on a different campaign then what they're doing."
Interim NDP Leader Flor Marcelino said it is Smith's passion that will make her a great representative for Point Douglas.
"Bernadette is the kind of MLA who makes me very excited about our party and our province," said Marcelino.