Nunavik, where Gov. Gen. Mary Simon grew up, is a long way from Ottawa and even farther from Buckingham Palace.
That never stopped her mother Nancy May, a unilingual Inuk, from keeping a photo of Queen Elizabeth prominently displayed in their family home or from filling young Mary Simon’s mind with stories about the Queen’s activities and travels.
In 2021, at the age of 73, Simon’s relationship with the Queen took on a more personal meaning when she was appointed as her official representative in Canada – making her the first Indigenous person to hold this role.
“I really always loved the Queen,” Simon told The Canadian Press in the drawing room of Rideau Hall.
“The Queen was always there.”
Simon has spent years advocating for Canada’s reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and is nearing the end of her tenure, having served both Queen Elizabeth and her son King Charles. Louise Arbour, a former Supreme Court justice and United Nations high commissioner for human rights, is set to take over as governor general on June 8.
Reflecting on her five years at 1 Sussex Drive, Simon said she will always remember how moving from being a distant admirer of the Queen to serving in this role allowed her to build relationships with people across Canada – pursuing reconciliation one conversation at a time.
“Making connections that help foster the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and other Canadians has been a big part because sometimes trust isn’t always there if you don’t get to know someone not from your own culture. It takes time, I think,” she said.
“That requires a lot more work, and I think just supporting Canadians with kindness and empathy during some of the more challenging times over the last five years was really important.”
She took on this position when Canada was just starting to confront its history regarding residential schools while then-prime minister Justin Trudeau prioritized reconciliation within his government.
Although she didn’t feel conflicted as an Inuk stepping into this viceregal role, she worried about how Indigenous people would react since they have unique relationships with the Crown through treaties that still need full implementation.
At the same time, Simon recognized opportunities where she could help strengthen ties between Indigenous Peoples and Canadians.
“I think that’s what I saw myself doing in this role – being that bridge-builder,” she said.
Simon expressed sorrow when Queen Elizabeth passed away in 2022. However, as King Charles’ coronation approached, she embraced another chance to create connections by helping arrange meetings between him and leaders of three national Indigenous organizations in Canada.
“From that point on, there’s been many visits by First Nations and Inuit to meet with King Charles,” she said.
“Those are some of my happiest moments.”
Five years after her appointment, discussions about reconciliation domestically are evolving. Some politicians have openly questioned whether efforts have favored Indigenous rights too much while federal and provincial governments in B. C. and Ontario have pushed significant projects forward in ways critics say undermine constitutional Indigenous rights.
Simon wouldn’t describe today’s landscape as “discouraging.”
“I think it means staying consistent in our messaging and moving-forward approach that Canada has had since I’ve been at Rideau Hall,” she explained.
“It’s part of life. It’s an ongoing journey. It doesn’t end.”
Currently residing around 2,000 kilometers away from where she was born-inside a historic site that’s been home for governors general since 1867-Simon uses Facebook to stay connected with relatives back North like many Indigenous people do.
“A lot of my nieces and nephews I’d hardly know without Facebook,” she remarked. “So when I go back home I recognize them all thanks to social media.”
“There’s definitely upsides but also real downsides.”
For Simon personally though those downsides appeared soon after taking office – when comment sections under her online posts filled up with remarks she labeled racist or sexist. Two years later things got so intense for Simon’s family that they decided comments should be turned off on her social media accounts.
“My family reacted; my kids were upset,” she shared. “So I made it public; addressing it openly seemed best.”
During her tenure she faced criticism regarding not speaking fluent French despite being proficient in English and Inuktitut.
When asked if those critiques were fair, she responded: “No, she didn’t think so.”
<P Nearly all languages spoken among indigenous communities across Canada are considered endangered according to UNESCO; thusly coinciding simultaneously occurred alongside UN’s official decade focused around indigenous languages.<P In 2011 Statistics Canada reported merely ten-point-five percent spoke both English/French compared seventeen-point-nine percent among wider Canadian population.<P The number conversing fluently now plummeting down drastically-a report found only two hundred forty thousand able converse fluently dropping four-point-three percent since twenty sixteen attributed largely effects stemming past residential schools actively preventing them learning own tongues While raised Quebec no formal training came through French lessons instead focused attempting improve skills privately over time.“As much reminded us we have two official languages nevertheless equally important mustn’t forget heritage roots,” emphasized stating throughout mandate effort attempt using language speeches regardless audience composition present.”
Even taught Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an Inuktitut word during their meeting Ottawa visit earlier this year. “She taught me word mother tongue,” he recounted later addressing Parliament House Commons. “Ajuinnata means don’t give up! Stay strong against all odds.” Simon noted how interested he showed towards understanding meaning behind favorite term heard often childhood community despite little resources available growing up She also shared word introducing it previously upon visiting Windsor Castle meeting attended held same year receiving apology delegates Pope Francis acknowledging Church’s historical involvement system
