Kateri Champagne Jourdain Indigenous woman MNA Quebec National Assembly

Kateri Champagne Jourdain is Quebec’s first Indigenous woman MNA

“We made history in Quebec. I am very proud. I carry the Innu culture within me, and I am bringing it with me to Quebec City.”

Among the 90 seats won by the CAQ in the Quebec election yesterday was the Quebec North Shore riding of Duplessis, whose representative Kateri Champagne Jourdain will also be the first Indigenous woman (and first Innu MNA) at the National Assembly. The only other Indigenous Quebecer to hold office was Parti Québécois MNA Alexis Wawanoloath, from 2007 to 2008.

Champagne Jourdain won the riding, which has been represented by the PQ for 40 years, with 45% of the vote, getting over 3,300 more votes than her PQ rival Marilou Vanier. The Québec Solidaire candidate in Duplessis, Uapukun Mestokosho, was also an Innu woman.

Champagne Jourdain hails from Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam, a community close to Sept-Îles. During last night’s victory speech, she said her Innu culture will assist future work with Indigenous communities, including the development of “major projects.”

“Here in Duplessis, we made history in the riding, but we also made history in Quebec. I am very proud.

“I carry the Innu culture within me, and I am bringing it with me to Quebec City.”

—Kateri Champagne Jourdain

Kateri Champagne Jourdain is Quebec’s first Indigenous woman MNA

For more on the provincial election results, please visit Élections Québec.


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