Nahanni Fontaine is the NDP MLA for St. Johns and currently serves as the Minister of Families, Minister Responsible for Accessibility, and Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equity for the Province of Manitoba. 

Nahanni holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Winnipeg in Environmental Studies and International Development, as well as a Master of Arts (M.A.) from the University of Manitoba in Native Studies, Women’s Studies, and Critical Theory.

Minister Fontaine has been a dedicated advocate for the rights of Indigenous women and girls for more than 25 years, particularly focusing on critical issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit peoples (MMIWG2S). Her extensive service includes representation within the Indigenous community at municipal, provincial, national, and international levels and service on various boards and committees. 

Before her tenure in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, Nahanni served as the Special Advisor on Aboriginal Women’s Issues for the Aboriginal Issues Committee of Cabinet of Manitoba and held the position of Director of Justice for the Southern Chief’s Organization for ten years. She has received multiple awards, scholarships, and fellowships, including the 2021 Indspire Award for Public Service, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s Doctoral Scholarship, the YMCA Women of Distinction Award, and the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Person’s Case. 

Nahanni, a Status Ojibway from the Sagkeeng Anishinaabe First Nation in southern Manitoba, takes pride in being the mother of Jonah, Niinichaanis, and her fur baby, Chilly Dog.