Manitoba founded by Métis but oppressive history soon made Indigenous premiership impossible

Manitoba has existed as a province for 153 years and, in that time, has had 19 premiers lead it through rewarding and turbulent times, marking milestones and influencing history.

Despite its lengthy resumé, the province comes up short in two significant measures. It has never elected a premier who is female or First Nations.

Depending how Manitobans cast their ballots on Oct. 3, new ground could be broken.

Heather Stefanson is the province's first female premier, a position she has held since November 2021. But she didn't lead the Progressive Conservatives to victory in an election. She won a leadership vote after Brian Pallister resigned.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew, who lived on the Onigaming First Nation in northwestern Ontario, has the edge on Stefanson heading into the election, according to recent poll results.

But he insists he's not out to make history for his ethnicity.

"I'm going to turn to great role models, leaders past that we've had, to try and be the best leader that I can be. But my goal is not to be the First Nations premier of Manitoba. My goal is to be the best premier of Manitoba," Kinew told CBC News.

Réal Carrière, an assistant professor in the University of Manitoba's political studies department, said that's probably the best approach for Kinew.

Should Kinew win, it doesn't mean Indigenous people will suddenly have more influence or a stronger voice. Representing all Manitobans is exactly what he will be required to do, Carrière said.

"It's a very hard job to be Indigenous and be a political representative because you do have to balance the role. It's very restrictive," Carrière said.

In her time as premier, it's not like Stefanson has advanced an agenda around women's concerns, he said.

"One thing it does signal is … an alternative voice with the potential to understand those issues and that's an important thing for democracy," Carrière said. "Western democracy has been dominated by white men and their voices, their perspectives."

A victory by Kinew wouldn't even necessarily be celebrated by all Indigenous people.

There are Indigenous people who support different political parties and others who believe running for public office undermines Indigenous sovereignty, said Carrière, who has both First Nations and Métis ancestry.