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Queen Elizabeth IIState & Ceremonial

History is made as The Queen appoints the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada

Canada has a new Governor General after Julie Payette resigned in January of 2021, amidst serious bullying and harassment allegations in her office. On Tuesday 6 July, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has approved Mary Simon’s appointment as the next Governor General of Canada. This is an historic appointment, as Simon is the first Indigenous person to hold the office. 

Simon will be the 30th Governor General of Canada since Confederation (in 1867), the 13th Governor General appointed during the Queen’s reign, and she is the 5th female GovernorGeneral of Canada. She is the first Indigenous person to serve as Governor General, and has been appointed at a time when Indigenous issues and history are at the forefront. 

Born in 1947, Simon was a broadcaster for CBC North, the division that covers the Northern territories and areas of Canada. Born to a non-Inuit father and an Inuk mother, Simon lived in Kuujjuaq, a Hudson’s Bay outpost in Northern Quebec. Simon attended the Fort Chimo day school, but did not have the opportunity to learn French while attending the school. Simon told reporters in Gatineau, QC that while she was unable to learn French at school because the government-run school did not offer French, she will be learning it while serving as Governor General. 

Throughout her career, Simon has taken part in many landmark negotiations. In the 1970s, she was a part of the team that negotiated the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and in 1982, she served as a senior Inuit negotiator when the Canadian Constitution was passed. She has held numerous leadership positions in Indigenous organisations, including the Northern Quebec Inuit Association, Makivik Corporation, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. 

Simon has also held several notable government positions. From 1999 to 2002, she served as the Canadian Ambassador to Denmark, and from 1994 to 2004, she served as the Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs. 

In Canada, the Governor General must provide royal assent for legislation on behalf of the monarch, and adjudicate constitutional disputes. 

Several unmarked, mass graves at the sites of residential schools have been re-discovered in the last month, and Indigenous issues continue to be a pressing issue in Canada. With more and more citizens pressing the government for action, this is truly a historic appointment. 

Speaking of the appointment, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “I am very pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen has graciously approved the appointment of Mary Simon as the next Governor General of Canada.

“Ms Simon has dedicated her life to advancing social, economic, and human rights issues for Canadian Inuit and Indigenous peoples, and I am confident that she will serve Canadians and promote our shared values with dedication and integrity.

“Through this appointment, we are ensuring that Canada is represented by someone who exemplifies the very best of our country. I also join Canadians in thanking Richard Wagner, for serving as the Administrator of the Government of Canada the past few months.”

About author

Historian and blogger at AnHistorianAboutTown.com