God, I lift up MLA Nahanni Fontaine to you today. I asked that you would give her the strength and desire to continue to do your Will. I pray that she would be a blessing to the people of Manitoban and her colleagues. I pray, Lord God, that she would inspire others in doing good and helping people in need. We thank you for the things you have placed in her heart and ask for the strength and courage for her to carry them out. We ask that you would bless Nahanni and her family with health and safety, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
As a young girl and teen, Nahanni Fontaine made Winnipeg’s North End her home. Since then she has since spent much of her political activism and career strengthening the voices of Indigenous women and girls. Before entering politics, Nahanni worked as Special Advisor on Aboriginal Women’s Issues for the Indigenous Issues Committee of Cabinet of Manitoba, with a special focus on Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). She also worked as an Environmental Researcher for Sagkeeng First Nation and taught in the Native Studies department at the University of Manitoba. Nationally, her work has been at the forefront of raising awareness on MMIWG, while locally, she has coordinated an unprecedented network of advocacy and support for MMIWG families. For this work, she was honoured with the Governor-General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case in 2013.