First Inuk Governor General will help bring issues into focus at crucial time, Indigenous leaders say
Maritime Indigenous leaders hope as the first Inuk Governor General, Mary Simon will bring much needed focus to the country's Indigenous peoples at this crucial time.
"It's the education aspect, letting Canadians know, letting the school systems know how this country started, the Indigenous people and the mistreatment,” said Barry LaBillois, Chief of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council.
It was the first ceremony swearing in ceremony featuring the Inuktitut language, an empowering recognition for Indigenous peoples across the country.
"I'm a language warrior myself, so definitely to hear her speaking her language and to hear her speaking about her way of life about living on the land and growing up that way, she's definitely going to bring a different perspective to many of the current realities of people at that level," said Lisa Dutcher, of the Wolastoq Grand Council.
Dutcher is hoping perspective on those realities can bring about change.
"Will she be able to make some systemic changes, will she be able to address some of the inequities, some of the injustices that are facing Indigenous people in this country," she said.
For some Maritime Indigenous leaders it's important having representation in that level of government.
"I think this is a wonderful thing, I think it's a step closer in the right direction to truth and reconciliation and I feel like she might help bridge that gap,” said Brandy Stanovich, president of The Indigenous Women of The Wabanaki Territories.
Seeing Simon, a former ambassador and advocate for Indigenous rights, in the role gives hope that change is coming in Canada.
"To see her in that role I feel like the shift is going to happen that our people are no longer going to be overlooked we're starting to get seats in those positions that matter to make a difference," Stanovich said.
LaBillois says he hopes that we will begin seeing more Indigenous leaders in key roles in the Maritimes and throughout Canada.
"If you look here in New Brunswick we had Graydon Nicholas as the lieutenant-governor, he did it for a number of years and it really helped profile aboriginal people here in New Brunswick so I'm hoping this will have a snowball effect and kind of go across the country as well,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt; claim links killing to Gaza
A Canadian man 'of Jewish Israeli descent' has been shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in a suspected criminal case, a security source said, while a previously unknown militant group said it carried out the attack in reaction to the war in Gaza.