Briding the gap

Mary Simon has spent a lifetime advocating for Indigenous rights with determination and quiet dignity.

Her lineage as the daughter of an Inuk mother and a non-Indigenous father, and her upbringing in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik (Quebec), gives her insight and lived experience that crosses cultural boundaries.

Perhaps that’s why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement on July 6 that she will be Canada’s 30th governor general since Confederation has been met with nearly universal approval.

Aside from some criticism for her lack of French — which she says she is ready and willing to learn — she has been hailed as a very good choice for the Queen’s representative in Canada.

Fluent in both Inuktitut and English, when sworn in she will be Canada’s first Indigenous governor general.

It is expected that Simon will bring humility and honourability to Rideau Hall, qualities that were sometimes absent during the tumultuous tenure of her predecessor, Julie Payette, who resigned five months ago amid allegations of bullying and haranguing staff.

Simon is, in her own words, “honoured, humbled and ready” and promises to follow the highest standard of work ethics in her new role.

At a time when Canadians are confronting the atrocities in our own history, with the recent discoveries of hundreds of Indigenous children’s graves outside former residential schools, she is uniquely positioned to help guide us through this painful and turbulent time.

The role of governor general may be largely ceremonial, but it is high-profile, and the person who holds the title can be seen as the embodiment of a country’s priorities.

Simon has an impressive track record of advocating for the Inuit people which she will no doubt capitalize on as governor general to raise awareness of all Indigenous issues and rights.

She has served as ambassador of circumpolar affairs and as ambassador to Denmark. She is a former president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents over 65,000 Inuit. She is a former broadcaster and a former chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough, Ont.

But perhaps her greatest attribute is her upbringing in the easterly village of Nunavik at the mouth of the George River, where her family lived in close connection with nature and embraced cultural traditions.

“Many months out of the year, we camped and lived on the land, hunted, fished, and gathered food, and maintained an active connection with our Inuit heritage and language,” she told reporters during the July 6 announcement. “These experiences allow me to be a bridge between the different lived realities that make up the tapestry of Canada.”

We hope Mary Simon can be that bridge, spanning chasms of knowledge and culture and helping Canadians embrace a better knowledge of, and respect for, each other’s experiences, traditions and beliefs.

The prime minister has called Simon “someone who exemplifies the very best of our country.”

May we all learn from her.