Written by Beth Fagan
In a historic first, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General on Tuesday.
Mary Simon, an Inuit leader, and former Canadian diplomat will be the country’s 30th Governor General.
Born in the Nunavik region of northern Quebec, Simon has had a long career in the public eye. From her early start as an announcer and producer with CBC North, Simon has used her voice to protect and stand up for Indigenous rights. This includes once being the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national Inuit organization. She has also served as an ambassador to Denmark, and in 2002 became Canada’s first Arctic Ambassador.
She has been a long-time advocate for the North, especially for youth living in the Arctic.
Speaking in both English and Inuktitut at the press conference, Simon acknowledged that she could act as a bridge builder between cultures.
(Sources: Canadian Press, CBC, Al Jazeera)
Comments