Clarke honoured to be Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations

Manitoba's Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations is now Agassiz MLA Eileen Clarke. The change happened in the cabinet shuffle this week. It's not a new role for her. She notes she was first approached to be Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Relations in 2016 and held that position for 18 months.

"Former Premier Brian Pallister then decided to split the two departments because it was a pretty heavy load," says Clarke. "So, then I became Minister of Indigenous Relations from 2017 til 2021. I would be appointed as Municipal Minister in January of 2022. I held that position for one year."

She explains "Reconciliation" was the term added to the role, noting it's a high priority in the government, and the appointment of a new minister in July of 2020 saw a renaming take place to include that aspect.

"I haven't been in this portfolio, this role, for approximately 18 months," continues Clarke. "I expected, with the upcoming cabinet shuffle that had been made publicly aware, I knew that the Premier was going to be replacing some of us more senior Members that are planning on retiring at the next provincial election. She would replace us with some of the newer and perhaps younger generation for her cabinet, which is something that a government would typically do. I was very much expecting to be retired out of cabinet. But when I got the call on Sunday, she asked if I would please fill the role in this department until my departure in the fall."

Clarke says she feels honoured by the decision.  

"I fully expected to be, what you might call, semi-retired in government," notes Clarke. "I would still serve as MLA. I was looking forward to that. I did not feel anything bad about being taken out of cabinet because, as I've indicated, that is typically what a Premier would do. So, I did not feel any remorse about that, but when she called and indicated she wanted me to stay in Cabinet, I was really quite thrilled about that. Today, I am back in the legislature in my old office and find that I still am a Member of Treasury Board, which I really enjoyed. But I'm also back on an Economic Development Committee of Cabinet, which I previously enjoyed when I was Indigenous Minister. So, I feel that I have been really blessed to have this position again."

Signing in for the role

She outlines her role as one that includes something she's been working off and on with -- mining and forestry in Manitoba; Northern Manitoba more specifically.

"I will get the opportunity to go to the Prospectors and Developers Conference in Toronto in March again," says Clarke. "I was there in 2020 and when we arrived back, that's when COVID hit Manitoba. So, it's a conference that I really enjoyed. I was really overwhelmed by the interest in mining in Manitoba, and that has grown dramatically in the three years since. The other major part of this department right now is, today (Tuesday), our Family Minister the Honourable Rochelle Squires, as well as our Premier, and Minister Hajdu from Ottawa, signed an agreement with Peguis First Nation on their Child and Family Care."

Clarke says the Child and Family Service change is a historic event.

"That is huge. I was there to actually witness it, seeing as I am now in the department. There's a lot happening in our province recognizing that our partnership and our relationship with Indigenous leadership and Indigenous communities is a very high priority," adds Clarke. "It's come a long way since I was first in this office since 2016. I was just to be in attendance there and witness it, and I was in this role again for less than 24 hours. It was a very emotional event for everyone from Peguis First Nation, as well as others that were there, and anybody that has been involved in the process. They've been working on this agreement for three years, and they're very passionate about it. This is a huge step forward for Manitoba, and especially for First Nations. My understanding from Minister Squires is that there are many other First Nations communities that are working toward this. They're in the process where they self-govern their Child and Family Services."

Right - Eileen Clarke

Clarke will not be running again in the next election in the fall. She says she feels like she's had a remarkable experience in her time with provincial government.

"To have spent all the seven-plus years that I will have been here in cabinet, less six months, it's been very much a learning experience," says Clarke. "It's been very rewarding, especially my time with the Indigenous people of Manitoba. It has changed me. They've taught me a lot. They're very humble people, but my year last year with Manitoba Municipalities was like winning the lottery. I had a great year. It kind of felt like a farewell tour, but it was so good to reunite with Municipalities. We accomplished a few very good things in that year. I have a short term here in this department; probably only about eight months. But I'll be working very hard to move anything forward that needs to move forward."