45 Facts About Robert-Falcon Ouellette

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was born on November 22,1979 and is a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Winnipeg Centre in the House of Commons of Canada from 2015 to 2019.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette has been a two-time candidate for Mayor of Winnipeg in the 2014 Winnipeg municipal election and the 2022 Winnipeg municipal election.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette is of Cree, Metis, French and English descent; Ouellette is a veteran of over 29 years in the Canadian Forces and was a community organizer and academic administrator before his entry into politics.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette has completed a full Sundance cycle at the Sprucewoods Sundance under David Blacksmith.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, made history as the first Indigenous Knowledge Keeper in the Canadian Armed Forces becoming the first Indigenous chaplain in 2025.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette has served for 29 years and he was the first MP to concurrently serve in the CAF while being an MP since WWII.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette is currently an associate professor at the University of Ottawa in Indigenous education and Director of the French Teacher Education Programs.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette's father was a student in the Canadian Indian residential school system and an alcoholic who was sometimes absent.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette's namesake was his mother's younger brother Robert-Falcon Green who died in 1961 at age 9.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was raised primarily by his mother, Sharon, a poorly educated woman with a history of depression.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette's mother was born in Tottenham, North London and moved from England to Canada in 1974.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette grew up in poor conditions, often going hungry, and as a child he once spent a summer homeless in Winnipeg sleeping in city parks.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Calgary in 2001.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was only the second indigenous person in the 350-year history of UL to earn a PhD.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette retired from the Royal Canadian Navy after nearly two decades of service with the rank of Petty Officer 1st class and remains as part of the Primary Reserves in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles as a Warrant Officer.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette moved to Winnipeg in 2011 from Quebec City after he was appointed as director of the Aboriginal Focus Programs at the University of Manitoba.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was the first Member of Parliament who concurrently served as a non-commissioned member of the Canadian Forces and the first MP since the end of the second World War who served concurrently.

In 2005, Robert-Falcon Ouellette ran for a city council seat for Quebec City Council, but lost by 170 votes.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette had run on a platform of dedicated to making Winnipeg a Child Friendly City, Rail Relocation, Light Rail Transit, bridging economic divides, racial inequality, infrastructure funding and campaign finance reform.

On May 3,2022, Robert-Falcon Ouellette announced a second run for Mayor of Winnipeg in the 2022 Winnipeg mayoral election.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette ran on a platform of crime reduction, better city transit and lower fees, a Child Friendly City policy, dealing with the mental health and addictions crisis and fiscal responsibility.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette resigned his position with the University of Manitoba in July 2015 to focus on his campaign.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette withdrew from the race to be Speaker of the House of Commons after making comments at a Winnipeg town hall meeting stating the position comes with "great influence" over the Prime Minister to the extent of calling the Prime Minister to the Speaker's Chair to address constituent's concerns.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was the only Liberal MP to have voted against the bill that legalized euthanasia, saying it was against his deep spiritual beliefs and would cause harm to Indigenous peoples.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette voted in support Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's Bill C-246: An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Fisheries Act, the Textile Labelling Act, the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette voted against a government bill that ordered striking Canada Post delivery staff back to work during a protracted labour dispute between management and workers in the crown corporation.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette is known for voting on issues in Parliament according to his constituents desires, often voting against his own party.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette has still voted with the government 87 per cent of the time.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was the chair of Indigenous Caucus and the member of Standing Committee on Health and Finance.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was the first chair of the all Parliamentary Indigenous caucus which brought together MPs and Senators.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette was the co-chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group to end Slavery and Human Trafficking.

Since elected in 2015, Robert-Falcon Ouellette started to fight for indigenous language rights.

On May 4,2017, Robert-Falcon Ouellette gave the very first entire speech in an indigenous language in the House of Commons history.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette demanded the House of Commons provide interpretation and translation services for the speech, but this was refused because it was not permissible under the rules.

On January 28,2019, Robert-Falcon Ouellette became the first MP to speak in an indigenous language while the House provided live translation.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette made a campaign pledge in 2015 to reform child welfare in Canada, due to the major impact that CFS was having on populations in the inner city of Winnipeg and the resulting increase in the homeless population.

In C-92, Robert-Falcon Ouellette was able to ensure that customary adoption was included as articles of law to help indigenous communities and nations return to more traditional forms of childcare.

Since 2016, Robert-Falcon Ouellette started to work with Lillian Dyck for a new law which would help protect Indigenous women if they were victims of violent crime.

In May 2016, Robert-Falcon Ouellette introduced his first Private Member's Bill C-318: An Act to establish Indian Residential School Reconciliation and Memorial Day to Parliament.

In December 2016, after consultation with unions, citizens and international victims, hurt and impacted by asbestos; Robert-Falcon Ouellette proposed new federal legislation.

Also in December 2016, Robert-Falcon Ouellette proposed C-332 An Act to provide for reporting on compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples UNDRIP.

In September 2018, to raise awareness about the violence and drug addiction issues facing Winnipeg and get the provincial and city government's actions, Robert-Falcon Ouellette erected his family tipi in Central Park and slept out in the open for a three days with the homeless and drug addicts.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette called on all MPs to combat meth crisis in November 2018.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette speaks French, English, and continues to learn Cree and Mandarin.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette is a professional musician and plays instruments such as trumpet and euphonium.