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Nahanni Fontaine

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The Honourable
Nahanni Fontaine
MLA
Minister of Families
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 18, 2023
PremierWab Kinew
Preceded byRochelle Squires
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for St. Johns
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 19, 2016
Preceded byGord Mackintosh
Personal details
Born1971 (age 53–54)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic
Residence(s)Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Winnipeg (BA)
University of Manitoba (MA)

Nahanni Fontaine (born 1971)[1] is a Canadian provincial politician, who was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the riding of St. Johns in the 2016 and 2019 elections.[2] She held the seat for the NDP after incumbent MLA Gord Mackintosh did not seek re-election.

Fontaine was interviewed for the Tina Fontaine episode the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network documentary series on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Taken. Despite sharing the same surname, the two are not related.[3]

On 10 March 2021, Nahanni Fontaine was removed from the House for the rest of the day for saying the Progressive Conservatives "just don't give a crap" about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.[4]

On 26 June 2025, Fontaine, who is the minister responsible for accessibility, was caught on camera, unaware her microphone was still recording, complaining about an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. The hot mic moment was captured by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network after Fontaine had delivered remarks at a graduation ceremony and was speaking with an aide as she prepared to talk to the media. “I was thrown off—it wasn’t great—but, because the woman, she shouldn’t have been on the stage. I couldn’t see anybody on the side,” Fontaine was heard saying. “All I could see was her." Fontaine then began waving her hands, to which her aide responded, describing the ASL interpreter’s signing as 'frantic hand movements.’ “Yeah. So, I’m like f**k, why did I have her on stage?” Fontaine said in response. “I’m like, ‘Jesus.’ I’m like, ‘You need to leave.’”[5]

Early life

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Fontaine was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was raised in Point Douglas. She is a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation.[6] She graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental development, and a Master of Arts in native studies.[7]

Personal life

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She is the niece of musician Vince Fontaine.[8]

Awards

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Electoral record

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2023 Manitoba general election: St. Johns
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Nahanni Fontaine 4,262 60.76 +8.88 $19,847.75
Independent Patrick Allard 1,117 15.92 – $17,543.47
Progressive Conservative Teddy Rubenstein 1,101 15.69 -8.78 $0.00
Liberal Dennis Yaeger 535 7.63 -8.62 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 7,015 99.53 – $58,447.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 33 0.47 –
Turnout 7,048 46.98 -0.36
Eligible voters 15,003
New Democratic hold Swing -3.52
Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba[10][11][12]
2019 Manitoba general election: St. Johns
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Nahanni Fontaine 3,526 51.2 +14.15 $10,974.72
Progressive Conservative Ray Larkin 1,665 24.2 -5.17 $521.28
Liberal Eddie Calisto-Tavares 1,092 15.9 -7.12 $518.13
Green Joshua McNeil 601 8.7 -1.84 $0.00
Total valid votes 100.0  
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
2016 Manitoba general election: St. Johns
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Nahanni Fontaine 2,358 37.05 -28.05 $28,122.25
Progressive Conservative Barbara Judt 1,869 29.37 +7.22 $9,267.93
Liberal Noel Bernier 1,465 23.02 +17.53 $19,281.67
Green Elizabeth Puchailo 671 10.54 +4.36 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 6,363 100.0   $40,783.00
Declined and rejected ballots 93 – –
Turnout 6,456 51.43 –
Eligible voters 12,554
Source: Elections Manitoba[13][14][15]

References

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  1. ^ Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water by Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair Google Books
  2. ^ "Manitoba election results". Global News. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Injustice is a way of Indigenous life, say advocates dismayed at verdict in Tina Fontaine murder trial". CBC News: The Current. CBC News. Retrieved 15 August 2021. Nahanni Fontaine, who is no relation to Tina Fontaine, has worked to bring attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
  4. ^ "Indigenous lawmaker removed from Canadian House". ICT News. IndiJ Public Media. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  5. ^ "'F--k, why did I have her on stage?': Manitoba minister apologizes for comments caught on hot mic". CTV News. CTV Television Network. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  6. ^ "St. Johns NDP". Manitoba's NDP. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  7. ^ "Nahanni Fontaine St. Johns - New Democratic Party of Manitoba". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg. 2016. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "Vince Fontaine, 'true visionary' and Juno Award-winning Manitoba musician, dies at 60". CBC News Manitoba, January 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "Governor General Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case - Status of Women Canada". cfc-swc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  10. ^ "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  11. ^ "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  12. ^ "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Candidates: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  14. ^ "41ST GENERAL ELECTION, APRIL 19, 2016 - OFFICIAL RESULTS". Elections Manitoba. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Election Returns: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
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