UM congratulates Mary Simon on her appointment as first Indigenous Governor General – UM Today
July 6, 2021 —
The University of Manitoba congratulates Mary Simon on her historic appointment as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General.
“I have been muttering that the Governor General should be Indigenous, should have been Indigenous years ago already – so I am delighted that an Indigenous person has been chosen – and that she is a woman. Mary Simon is an excellent choice,” says Professor Emma LaRocque, the longest serving faculty member in the UM’s department of Native Studies.
“Ms. Simon has served as an advocate for Inuit rights and culture, and the rights of all Indigenous peoples, and her appointment is a significant and inspirational moment for Canada,” says Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Manitoba. “This appointment comes at a time in our shared history when we are increasingly aware of the importance of Truth and Reconciliation, and of creating a more equitable and inclusive society.”
