[4] Robinson worked at a variety of jobs including dishwasher in Churchill, an addiction counsellor in British Columbia and a radio disc jockey.
In 1985, he co-authored a work entitled Infested Blanket, an historical indictment of the Canadian government's past dealings with Aboriginal peoples.
[5] Robinson entered provincial politics on September 21, 1993, winning a by-election in the northern riding of Rupertsland[2] (he replaced Elijah Harper in the assembly).
Robinson was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 1995,[7] and served as the NDP's critic for Aboriginal and Northern Affairs.
After the NDP won a majority government in the 1999 election,[8] Premier Gary Doer named Robinson Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs with responsibility for the Communities Economic Development Fund on October 5, 1999.