Indigenous Peoples play a key role in national security: Gov. Gen. Mary Simon – SooToday.com
Feb 27, 2026
OTTAWA — Gov. Gen. Mary Simon says Indigenous communities across the country — and particularly in the Arctic — play a vital role in Canada’s national security.
Speaking at the National Indigenous Defence Conference today in Ottawa, Simon said Canada can’t afford to overlook the strategic advantages Indigenous communities provide through their knowledge of terrain and traditional practices.
Simon says the Canadian Rangers in the North have shared vital information with the Canadian Armed Forces during surveillance patrols and search and rescue missions, along with advice on how to survive in extremely cold weather.
