Eric Robinson (Canadian politician) facts for kids

Eric Robinson (born February 5, 1953) is an Aboriginal Canadian politician. He was an important member of the Manitoba legislature. He also served as a cabinet minister for the New Democratic Party government led by Greg Selinger.

Eric Robinson's Early Life and Background

Eric Robinson was born in Norway House, Manitoba, on February 5, 1953. When he was five years old, he was placed in a special school for Aboriginal children. This experience shaped his life and future work.

Working for His Community

Robinson is a member of the Cross Lake First Nation. This community is part of Treaty 5, an agreement between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government. Before becoming a politician, Eric worked many different jobs. He was a dishwasher in Churchill and an addiction counsellor in British Columbia. He even worked as a radio disc jockey.

Advocating for Aboriginal Rights

Eric Robinson has spent many years working on issues important to Aboriginal peoples. He worked for groups like the Assembly of First Nations and the Brotherhood of Indian Nations. These organizations help promote and protect the rights of Indigenous people in Canada.

Broadcasting and Writing

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

Eric Robinson's Political Career

Eric Robinson began his political journey in Manitoba on September 21, 1993. He won a special by-election in the northern area called Rupertsland. He took over from Elijah Harper in the assembly. Running for the New Democratic Party (NDP), Robinson received 1697 votes. His closest opponent, George Munroe from the Liberal Party, received 1023 votes.

Serving as a Critic

Robinson was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1995. During this time, he served as the NDP's critic for Aboriginal and Northern Affairs. This meant he was the main spokesperson for his party on these important topics. In 1995, he also supported Lorne Nystrom in his campaign to become the leader of the federal New Democratic Party.

Becoming a Cabinet Minister

When the NDP won the 1999 election, they formed the government. 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.

New Responsibilities

After a change in the cabinet on September 25, 2002, Eric Robinson took on new roles. He became the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism. He also gained responsibility for Sport.

Continued Success in Elections

In 2003, Robinson supported Bill Blaikie's campaign to become the leader of the federal NDP. In the 2003 provincial election, Eric Robinson was re-elected with a very high number of votes. He received over 86% of the votes in his area. He was elected again in the 2007 election. In 2007, he continued his role as Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport.