Oscar Lathlin

Oscar Lathlin is a Manitoba politician, and a current member of Premier Gary Doer's cabinet.

Lathlin was born and raised at the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in The Pas, in northern Manitoba. He attended high school at Frontier Collegiate in Cranberry Portage, graduating in 1969.

He subsequently returned to his community, and worked as a Band Manager of The Pas Band. He was named Executive Director of the Swampy Cree Tribal Council in 1979, and was elected Chief of The Pas Band in 1985. He also worked as an advisor to the Native Teacher Education Program, served on various committees of the Assembly of First Nations and was a Senior Advisor for the federal government of Canada on a variety of subjects.

In 1990, Lathlin was elected to the provincial legislature in the riding of The Pas for the New Democratic Party, narrowly defeating Progressive Conservative Alfred McDonald. He was re-elected over McDonald by a greater margin in 1995. The NDP lost both of these elections, and Lathlin served as Critic for Native Affairs, Constitutional Development and Community Economic Development during his time as an opposition MLA.

The NDP won the general election of 1999, and Lathlin was re-elected in a surprisingly close race over PC candidate Ron Evans. He was subsequently named as Minister of Conservation in Gary Doer's first cabinet. On September 25, 2002, he was transferred to the Ministry of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, also holding responsibility for the Communities Economic Development Fund.

Lathlin was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 2004.