Electoral Firsts in Canada - Aboriginal Canadians

Aboriginal Canadians

Year that First Nations persons "given" the right to vote in federal elections: 1960

First Aboriginal Canadian elected to a Legislature in Canada: Frank Arthur Calder, BC New Democratic Party, 1949–1975 (first treaty native elected anywhere in Canada)

First Aboriginal Canadian appointed to Canadian Senate (first treaty native named a senator in Canada): James Gladstone of Alberta, 1958

First Aboriginal Canadian elected to the Canadian House of Commons (first Aboriginal Canadian MP): Leonard Marchand, Kamloops-Cariboo (BC), Liberal Party, 1968–1974

First Aboriginal Canadian woman elected to the Parliament of Canada: Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Liberal Party of Canada, Western Arctic, 1988–2006

First Aboriginal Canadian MLA elected in British Columbia: Frank Arthur Calder, BC New Democratic Party, 1949–1975* (first treaty native elected anywhere in Canada)

First Aboriginal Canadian MLA elected in Alberta: Mike Cardinal, Alberta Progressive Conservatives MLA Athabasca-Redwater 1989–present

First Aboriginal Canadian MLA elected in Saskatchewan: Lawrence Riel Yew Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MLA Cumberland, 1982–1986 and second was Keith Goulet MLA, Cumberland, 1986–2003

First Aboriginal Woman MLA elected in Saskatchewan: Joan Beatty, Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MLA for Cumberland, 2003 to 2009

First Aboriginal Canadian MLA elected in Manitoba: Elijah Harper, Manitoba New Democratic Party MLA Rupertsland, 1981–1992

First Aboriginal Canadian MPP elected in Ontario: Peter North Ontario New Democratic Party) MPP 1990–1993, Independent MPP 1993–1999

First Aboriginal Canadian MNA elected in Quebec: Ludger Bastien, Quebec Conservative Party MLA for Chauveau 1924–1927

First Aboriginal Canadian MLA elected in New Brunswick: T. J. Burke, NB Liberal MLA for Fredericton-Nashwaaksis 2006–present

First Aboriginal Canadian MHA elected in Newfoundland & Labrador: Wally Andersen Newfoundland & Labrador Liberal MHA Torngat Mountains, 1996–present

First Métis Canadian elected to a Legislature in Canada: Pierre Delorme, Conservative, MP Provencher, Manitoba 1871–1872

First Inuk Canadian elected to the Canadian House of Commons (first Inuk Canadian MP): Peter Ittinuar, New Democratic Party, a pilot from the North West Territories, MP Nunatsiaq, NWT 1979- ("Inuk" (plural: Inuit) are the people formerly known as "Eskimos")

First Inuk elected in southern Canada: George Hickes Manitoba New Democratic Party MLA, Point Douglas, 1990–present

First Inuk speaker of a legislature: George Hickes Manitoba New Democratic Party MLA, Speaker 1999–present

First Inuk appointed to the federal cabinet: Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative Party of Canada, Minister of Health, 2008.