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History was made when Mary Simon, an advocate of Inuit Rights, was named Canada’s first indigenous Governor-General on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
Simon was born in Quebec on August 21, 1947. During the early stages of her career, she was a radio broadcaster for the CBC. After this arrangement, she started to work for the Northern Quebec Inuit Association and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. She was also Canada’s former Ambassador from 1999 to 2001.
Interesting developments happen during this historic event as Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister, had to dismiss former governor, Julie Payette, from the position due to countless allegations of bullying and harassment.
As she takes office, constant issues are resurfacing with tensions between the indigenous people and Canadian natives. Just recently, the discovery of an indigenous child graveyard with no headstones had made news in Canada. The graveyard is located at a Kamloops 
Residential School in British Columbia. Since this incident, the serious event has opened up old wounds for the indigenous natives as survivors of the residential school are reliving the trauma they had went through.
Simon can make a change, unite the 2 groups, and resolve a 157-year-old conflict. She will face controversy as the whole monarch system is under the British Queen, Elizabeth II. Some indigenous tribes, see this as a step forward. others see this as a step back and that she has betrayed her people. In all honesty, she is in a position to make such an effort to change everything. Giving the constant thought of her position and her life’s work, she has a reputation that best benefits her when it comes to holding this important position.
Simon is a promising representative with an interesting background. Those among the indigenous nation should be proud of this historic moment. May the future be bright for the indigenous people.
Written by Darryl Johnson Jr.
Edited by Sheena Robertson and Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
The Washington Post: Mary Simon, advocate for Inuit rights, named Canada’s first Indigenous governor-general; by Amanda Colletta
The Washington Post: Canada’s embattled governor-general resigns amid bullying, harassment allegations
Tornado Star: Who is Mary Simon? A few facts on Canada’s first Indigenous governor-general
ABCNews: Report: Over 600 bodies found at Indigenous school in Canada
Featured, Top, and Inset Image Courtesy of Lover Lounge’s Flickr Page- Creative Common License