Blake Desjarlais facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blake Desjarlais
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Desjarlais in 2023
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| Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach |
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| Assumed office September 20, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Kerry Diotte |
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| Born | December 29, 1993 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic |
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Blake Desjarlais was born on December 29, 1993. He is a Canadian politician. Since 2021, he has been a Member of Parliament (MP). He represents the area of Edmonton Griesbach in the House of Commons.
Blake is a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP). He is from both Cree and Métis backgrounds. This makes him the only Indigenous MP from Alberta. He is also the first openly two-spirit person to serve as an MP.
Growing Up and Learning
Blake Desjarlais was born in Edmonton. He grew up in the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement. This is a Métis community in northern Alberta. He has both Cree and Métis heritage.
Blake's birth mother was affected by the Sixties Scoop. This was a time when many Indigenous children were taken from their families. She spent her childhood in foster care. When Blake was born, his aunt, Grace Desjarlais, raised him. Blake has said that his aunt "saved his life." His father, a carpenter, passed away when Blake was twelve.
Blake went to high school in Elk Point, Alberta. He later studied political science and Indigenous studies at MacEwan University. He faced challenges there and moved to the University of Victoria. At university, Blake was active in student politics. He was also a "firekeeper" for the Native Student Union (NSU). After finishing his studies, he became the national director of the Metis Settlements General Council in 2016.
Becoming a Politician
Blake Desjarlais thought about running for an Indigenous leadership role. He was unsure about joining regular political parties at first. He felt they might only be interested in him for his Indigenous and queer background. But when he met people from the NDP, his view changed. He felt they saw him as a complete person with many skills.
His First Campaign
During the 2021 election, Blake received support from several politicians. These included Janis Irwin, Chris Nielsen, former premier Rachel Notley, and former education minister David Eggen. While campaigning, Blake faced a difficult situation. He was wrongly identified as Chinese and blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic. He continued to work hard despite this challenge.
As a Member of Parliament
On election day, Blake Desjarlais won against Kerry Diotte. Diotte was a Conservative MP who had served two terms. The area was usually considered a strong Conservative area. Blake's win showed that people were looking for change. Some felt unhappy with the Liberal Party and angry with the Conservative Party.
Blake Desjarlais made history by becoming the first openly two-spirit person elected to Parliament. "Two-spirit" is a term used by some Indigenous people. It describes someone who has both masculine and feminine spirits. It is an important part of their identity and culture.
After being elected, Blake was chosen for an important role. He became the New Democratic Party's deputy caucus chair. This means he helps lead the group of NDP MPs in Parliament.
