{"id":13789,"date":"2021-07-08T13:45:11","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T17:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=13789"},"modified":"2021-07-08T13:47:58","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T17:47:58","slug":"indian-country-today-inuit-leader-mary-simon-makes-history-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/07\/08\/indian-country-today-inuit-leader-mary-simon-makes-history-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Country Today: Inuit leader Mary Simon makes history in Canada"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/07\/08\/indian-country-today-inuit-leader-mary-simon-makes-history-in-canada\/marysimon\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-13792\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" data-attachment-id=\"13792\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/07\/08\/indian-country-today-inuit-leader-mary-simon-makes-history-in-canada\/marysimon\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/08\/marysimon-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Mary Simon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Prime Minister Trudeau and Mary Simon take part in an announcement in Gatineau. July 6, 2021. \/\/\/&lt;br \/&gt;\nLe premier ministre Trudeau et Mary Simon participent \u00e0 une annonce \u00e0 Gatineau. 6 juillet 2021.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/08\/marysimon-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/08\/marysimon-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Mary Simon\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-13792\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">  Mary Simon was announced as Canada\u2019s 30th governor general on July 6, 2021. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/pmtrudeau\/51295923261\/>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">First Indigenous person appointed as Canada\u2019s governor general<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Mary Simon praised as a &#8216;diplomat, advocate and a strong Inuk woman&#8217;<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Thursday, July 8, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Mary Annette Pember <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mapember\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/a><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indian Country Today<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-website\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indiancountrytoday.com\/\">indiancountrytoday.com<\/a><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nA longtime advocate for Inuit rights and a former leader of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference has been tapped as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gg.ca\/en\/governor-general\/governor-general-designate-mary-simon\">Canada\u2019s 30th governor general<\/a>, the first Indigenous person to hold the office.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nPrime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the <a href=\"https:\/\/pm.gc.ca\/en\/news\/news-releases\/2021\/07\/06\/prime-minister-announces-queens-approval-canadas-next-governor\">appointment of Mary Simon<\/a> on June 6 followed by a press conference at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. Trudeau said Queen Elizabeth II has approved the appointment.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nTrudeau praised Simon, Inuk, as a lifelong bridge-builder who brings together people from diverse backgrounds.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cIt is truly an honor to introduce Canada\u2019s governor general-designate, Ms. Mary Simon,\u201d Trudeau said. \u201cAfter 154 years, our country takes a historic step. I cannot think of a better person to meet this moment.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_twitter-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JustinTrudeau\/status\/1412441719249981443\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12\/e5n-8jqxma0woya.jpg\" alt=\"Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) on X\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JustinTrudeau\/status\/1412441719249981443\">\n\t\t\tJustin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) on X\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JustinTrudeau\/status\/1412441719249981443\">\n\t\t\t<p>This morning, I announced our country\u2019s next Governor General: Mary Simon. Ms. Simon has long been an advocate for Canadian Inuit and Indigenous peoples, and I know she\u2019ll serve all Canadians with the same dedication and integrity. https:\/\/t.co\/9bAhm1Egsc<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"X (formerly Twitter)\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tX (formerly Twitter)\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe governor general is the viceregal, or representative, of Canada\u2019s monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and holds a largely ceremonial position that is nonpartisan and apolitical. Since Canada is a constitutional monarchy, where the duties of state and head of government are distinct, the governor general represents the powers and responsibilities of the queen.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSimon began her remarks during the press conference by speaking in Inuktitut, followed by English.\r\n\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nShe thanked the prime minister and said, \u201cI can confidently say that my appointment is a historic and inspirational moment for Canada and an important step forward on the long path towards reconciliation.\u2019\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe 73-year-old mother of three was once a broadcaster for CBC North and later began her career as a public servant when she was elected secretary of the board of directors of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association. She helped lead the circumpolar conference, an organization representing Inuit in all Arctic countries, and is a past president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national Inuit organization. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nShe served as Canadian ambassador to Denmark and chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. She was also a member of the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the North American Free Trade Commission on Environmental Cooperation. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_twitter-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/APTNNews\/status\/1412425210440081422\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/12\/e5nxhb7wyag_kpu.jpg\" alt=\"APTN News (@APTNNews) on X\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/APTNNews\/status\/1412425210440081422\">\n\t\t\tAPTN News (@APTNNews) on X\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/APTNNews\/status\/1412425210440081422\">\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI can confidently say that my appointment is an historic and inspirational moment for Canada, and an important step forward on the long path towards reconciliation.\u201d Mary Simon shares remarks in English and Inuktitut during this morning\u2019s Governor General announcement.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"X (formerly Twitter)\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tX (formerly Twitter)\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe announcement comes as Canada reels from the discovery of hundreds of <a href=\"https:\/\/indiancountrytoday.com\/news\/we-wont-forget-the-children\">unmarked children\u2019s graves at former Indian residential schools<\/a>.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nAccording to the governor general\u2019s official government website, \u201cThe governor general encourages dialogue, nurtures a sense of shared purpose, identity, compassion and achievement, and promotes respect for the diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives of all Canadians. In all things, the governor general fosters a spirit of inclusiveness that views diversity as a strength to be celebrated and encouraged.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn Canada\u2019s upcoming federal election this fall, Simon\u2019s duty as governor general will require her to dissolve Parliament in order to trigger an election. She will do so at the request of the prime minister.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSimon was raised in the village of Kuujjuaq, on the coast of Ungava Bay in northeastern Quebec. Her mother was a local Inuk woman and her father worked at a Hudson\u2019s Bay Company post.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cI spent my adolescence in Nunavik, living a very traditional lifestyle many months of the year,\u201d she said. \u201cMy grandmother and mother were my teachers and mentors.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><p><\/p>\r\nSimon credited her father with teaching her about the non-Native world and helping her build connections between both worlds.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cWe must come to terms with the atrocities of the past and work towards the promise of a better tomorrow,\u201d she said. \u201cIf we embrace our common humanity, Canada\u2019s brightest days are yet to come.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe governor general position has been vacant since Julie Payette resigned in January after a scathing independent report on a toxic work environment that developed during her tenure.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nIndigenous leaders throughout Canada praised and congratulated Simon on her appointment.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cMary is a diplomat, advocate and a strong Inuk woman,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/perrybellegarde\/status\/1412418677169864709\">Perry Bellegarde<\/a>, the outgoing national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said. \u201cI look forward to working with her as the Crown\u2019s representative in Canada.\u201d\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThe Associated Press contributed to this article. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<HR><EM>Mary Annette Pember, a citizen of the Red Cliff Ojibwe tribe, is a national correspondent for Indian Country Today.<\/em><HR>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<strong>Note: This article originally <a href=\"https:\/\/indiancountrytoday.com\/news\/first-indigenous-person-appointed-as-canadas-governor-general\">appeared on Indian Country Today<\/a>, an an independent news enterprise owned by IndiJ Public Media, an Arizona nonprofit company that sustains itself with funding from members, donors, foundations, and supporters. \r\n<P><\/p>\r\n ICT does not charge for subscriptions and tribal media (or any media, for that matter) can use the publication\u2019s content for free. <a href=\"https:\/\/support.indiancountrytoday.com\/\">Contribute to  Indian Country Today<\/a>.<\/strong>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A longtime advocate for Inuit rights has been tapped as Canada\u2019s governor general, the first Indigenous person to hold the office.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13792,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[15,14],"tags":[139,609,129,1763,175,1762,1764,607,44],"class_list":["post-13789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canada","category-politics","tag-afn","tag-canada","tag-ict","tag-justin-trudeau","tag-languages","tag-mary-simon","tag-perry-bellegarde","tag-quebec","tag-women","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-3Ap","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/08\/marysimon-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13789\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}