Canada names Mary Simon as first Indigenous governor general

Simon, an ex-diplomat and longtime Inuit rights advocate, says appointment is ‘important step’ towards reconciliation.

Indigenous leader Mary Simon will be Canada’s 30th governor general, becoming the first Indigenous person to hold the largely ceremonial role in the country’s history. In a news conference on Tuesday morning, Simon said she was “honoured, humbled and ready to be Canada’s first Indigenous governor general”. “I can confidently say that my appointment is a historic and inspirational moment for Canada and an important step forward on the long path towards reconciliation,” she told reporters alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced the appointment.