Canada's first Aboriginal federal cabinet minister, Len Marchand, has died. "My condolences to the family of Len Marchand, the first federal cabinet minister of First Nations descent." And, in 1976, Marchand achieved another first, becoming a member of Pierre Trudeau's cabinet, first as Minister for Small Business then, from 1977-79 as Minister of the Environment. In 1999, he received the Order of Canada, and in 2014 he received the Order of B.C. He became parliamentary secretary to Jean Chretien in 1972, when the latter was Minister of Indian Affairs.

Source: CBC News June 03, 2016 19:38 UTC