Interviewing the Governor General in my language felt like reconciliation

I never imagined that I would be the first person to interview Canada's new Governor General, her excellency Ms. Mary May Simon, Ningiukalak. 

Last week I went on a work trip from Iqaluit to Ottawa. It wasn't like most work trips I've experienced in the past, in fact it was quite magical, almost like a fairy tale.  

Planning was nalunaq (a challenge). I was coordinating something that had never been done before — an Inuktitut interview with a governor general. I was in Iqaluit and my guest was at Rideau Hall. How was this going to work out?  

I flew to Ottawa. After picking up my two camera operators — and enough television equipment to build a shelter if we broke down — we made our way to the Princess Anne Entrance at Rideau Hall. It was an eye-opener, in so many ways.

Everyone there spoke in French — my colleagues Christian Patry and Mathieu Theriault, the security staff, everyone. It was beautiful to hear, like music. It kind of felt like I was far, far away, in another world. 

I observed the art on the walls, the squeaky old floors and wondered how old and how new all this was. Who walked these halls, and did they ever think I'd be walking down those very halls to interview a governor general in Inuktitut?

Deep in my own thoughts, preparing for my interview, I could see and feel that the Rideau Hall staff and people working around us were just as curious about me as I was about them — even through the masks and the distancing.  

I then got a brief tour of the areas in the house used for filming, like the "tent room" — a fancy room draped in pink and gold that sparked the little princess in me. 

It reminded me of my own dreams growing up and how proud I am of Inuit. Remembering what was done to them, what they have survived, and where I was standing at that moment — I was really proud. Not of me, but all of us. I witnessed reconciliation in action. In the now.

As I found my way back to the other room, I walked by Neva the golden retriever dog sitting outside a screen door, head tilted to the side and staring at me with sad puppy eyes, maybe wondering who is this girl running around my house that talks like my mom? I said a quick hello and off I went. I didn't feel too bad knowing Neva had a pretty roomy backyard.

People who know me know that I don't get nervous. But this changed me. I admit I felt a few butterflies when I met face-to-face with Mary May Simon.   

As she entered the room, everybody stood and all eyes were on her. I tried my best to speak clearly.

"Thank you for having us in your home, your excellency," I said, then, "mamianaq Inuktut qanuq taijaunajaqpa?" ("how do we say that in Inuktitut? We've never had to use that").