Eric Robinson (Canadian politician) facts for kids

Eric Robinson (born February 5, 1953) is an Indigenous leader and politician from Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Manitoba legislature, which is like the provincial parliament. He also served as a cabinet minister in the New Democratic government led by Greg Selinger.

Early Life and Community Work

Eric Robinson was born in Norway House, Manitoba. When he was five years old, he spent some time in a residential school, which were schools for Indigenous children. He is a member of the Cross Lake First Nation, which is part of Treaty 5.

Diverse Career Paths

Before becoming a politician, Eric Robinson had many different jobs. He worked as a dishwasher in Churchill. He was also an addiction counsellor in British Columbia. For a time, he was even a radio disc jockey.

Advocating for Indigenous Rights

Eric Robinson has always been very involved in issues important to Indigenous people. He worked for groups like the Assembly of First Nations, which represents First Nations people across Canada. He also worked with the Brotherhood of Indian Nations. These organizations work to protect and promote the rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Media and Writing

Before entering politics, Eric Robinson also worked in media. He was a producer and broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). He also worked for Native Communications Incorporated. In 1985, he helped write a book called Infested Blanket. This book looked at the history of how the Canadian government dealt with Indigenous peoples.

Political Career

Eric Robinson began his political career on September 21, 1993. He won a by-election in the northern area called Rupertsland. A by-election is a special election held to fill a vacant seat. He took over the seat from Elijah Harper. Running for the New Democratic Party (NDP), Robinson won with 1697 votes. His closest opponent, George Munroe from the Liberal Party, received 1023 votes.

Re-election and Opposition Role

Eric Robinson was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1995. During this time, the NDP was not in power. He served as the NDP's critic for Indigenous and Northern Affairs. This meant he was the main spokesperson for his party on these topics. In 1995, he also supported Lorne Nystrom in his campaign to become the leader of the federal New Democratic Party.

Cabinet Minister Roles

When the NDP won the 1999 election, they formed the government. The Premier, Gary Doer, chose Eric Robinson to be a cabinet minister. On October 5, 1999, he became the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs. He was also responsible for the Communities Economic Development Fund.

In a change to the cabinet on September 25, 2002, he became the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism. He was also responsible for Sport.

Continued Success and New Responsibilities

In 2003, Eric Robinson supported Bill Blaikie's campaign to become the leader of the federal NDP. In the 2003 provincial election, Robinson was re-elected with a very large number of votes in his riding. He was elected again in the 2007 election. In 2007, he was given a new role as Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport.

Election History

2016 Manitoba General Election

2011 Manitoba General Election

2007 Manitoba General Election

2003 Manitoba General Election

1999 Manitoba General Election