Shaneen Robinson is determind to do what nobody else in Winnipeg has done before — she wants to be a First Nations woman on city council. "There’s never been a First Nations woman elected to council," she said in an interview. She’s already earned her stripes for the fight for a council seat. She defeated two other candidates on the first ballot for the right to wave the NDP banner in the coming civic election.

She’s running in Elmwood/East Kildonan, the ward vacated by retiring Lillian Thomas, who held it for more than 20 years. Thomas was considered a left-of-centre politician, so the NDP’s backing can’t but help Robinson. Robinson, 28, has politics in her genes. She’s the daughter of Manitoba’s Deputy Premier Eric Robinson. She also has been a frequent contributor to the First Nations Voice.

She appreciates the task ahead of her. "It’s going to be a lot of hard work. So many people have become disengaged with civic politics."

"I want to get people interested, get them out to the polls — young people, new Canadians, seniors, Aboriginal families."

So what does she stand for? "More resources for young people in this ward. So

many of them can’t access sports resources. "I want to bring everybody together as a community."

Other issues that concern her include housing, infrastructure, green spaces and

safety.

"I want to have a strong working relationship with our police service. I want to heal our area" from crime, including car thefts, breakins, and kids getting into gangs."

Robinson is a proud member of the Cree and Gitxsan nations. She’s a writer/journalist who has worked for CTV News Winnipeg and NCI FM.