‘History has been keeping us gainfully employed’: Mary Simon’s term defined by change

When Mary Simon was sworn in as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, the country was confronting a reckoning over its relationship with Indigenous Peoples.

Former prime minister Justin Trudeau announced Simon’s appointment to the role in July 2021, about a month after 751 bodies were found buried on the grounds of Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan.

The discovery reignited national conversations about reconciliation, inspiring Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed to describe Simon as an “ideal Governor General for this place and time.”

Five years later, Simon is set to hand the office over to Louise Arbour, and she appears to have lived up to the promise.

Because of her, Canada is “more just, more inclusive, and far more committed to reconciliation,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney last week at the launch of her legacy project, Ajuinnata: The Mary Simon Catalyst for Mental Wellness.

During a speech in the Senate on Wednesday, Sen. Nancy Karetak-Lindell described Simon as a “shining light” on Canada’s path toward reconciliation and credited her with bringing Inuktitut into the country’s highest office.

“Her presence and her voice have underscored that reconciliation must include the protection, revitalization and everyday use of Indigenous languages,” Karetak-Lindell said.

On Facebook, Indigenous Services Minister Rebecca Chartrand wrote that Simon had “transformed the role” of Governor General and carried Inuit language, culture and identity “into the heart of Canadian public life.”

By the time she took office, Simon had spent more than five decades advocating for Inuit rights, Indigenous self-determination and Canada’s Arctic interests.

“My view is that reconciliation is a way of life and requires work every day,” Simon said during her 2021 installation ceremony.

Throughout her mandate, she sought to bring Indigenous perspectives into institutions that had historically excluded them.

Inuit traditions featured prominently during her installation ceremony, which included a qulliq lighting and drum dancing. She frequently delivered speeches in Inuktitut, English and French. Her personal coat of arms incorporated Inuit symbolism and carried the motto “Ajuinnata,” an Inuktitut term that means “never give up.”

Simon’s tenure also coincided with several defining moments in Canada’s recent history.

In 2022, she welcomed former Pope Francis to Canada during his visit to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system. That same year, she represented Canada at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign spanned seven decades.

Months later, Simon travelled to London for the coronation of King Charles III. Ahead of the ceremony, she arranged what she described as the first meeting between a British monarch and the leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council.

Simon also greeted several foreign leaders including the former U.S. president Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She oversaw change in Canada’s government too, approving Trudeau’s request to prorogue Parliament in January 2025 and welcoming Mark Carney as prime minister.

“One might say history has been keeping us gainfully employed,” Simon said during her farewell address to parliamentarians this week. “Throughout these changes, I have remained confident in the strength of our democracy, our institutions and our sovereignty.”

Mental health emerged as her defining priority, yet she also spoke about racist and misogynistic attacks directed at her and her staff, which resulted in a national symposium at Rideau Hall that focused on digital safety and online harassment.

In a recent statement, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson said Simon consistently brought northern perspectives into national conversations and reminded Canadians that “the North is a vital part of who we are as a country.”

Nunavut Premier John Main has described her as a “trailblazer” who advocated for “reconciliation within the nation, diversity and inclusion, as well as environmental stewardship.” 

Simon offered her own assessment Wednesday: “As Governor General, I have sought to be a bridge builder for all Canadians.”