Canadian Indigenous Government Leaders

Before we begin, we would like to acknowledge that we gather today to work, learn, and play on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Coast Salish, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxw (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Stz'uminus, šxwməθkwəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxw (Musqueam), and Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group.

The Indigenous peoples have left an immense impact on what Canada is today and they were the first people to reside here on the land of Canada. One of the many ways they have made a difference is by becoming some of our country’s dedicated and great leaders. Canada’s federal government is slowly becoming a diverse group of leaders and many of those leaders are, in fact, Indigenous. Here are some of the federal Indigenous leaders of Canada and the positive impacts they have made on our country.

Mary Simon, Governor-General of Canada (Mathieu Thériault/CBC).

Mary Simon: Mary Simon is the very first Indigenous person to be named Canada’s Governor-General. Simon is an Inuk from the village of Kuujjuaq, which is on the coast of Ungava Bay in Quebec. She is the past president of an organization called the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national Inuit organization. Simon is bilingual in English and Inuktitut and in fact, she makes her opening remarks in Inuktitut when announcing her appointment. Mary Simon states, “For a long time, there have been barriers in place for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis in this country”. In 1975, she opened a “barrier” between the Cree and Inuit in northern Quebec, the provincial government, and Hydro-Québec, as she helped negotiate the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. This agreement now grants rights of hunting, fishing, financial compensation, and much more to the Cree and Inuit in the James Bay region.

RoseAnne Archibald, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (Photo/AFN).

RoseAnne Archibald: RoseAnne Archibald is an Indigenous advocate, politician, and the current National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. She is also the first and youngest woman to get elected for Taykwa Nation at the astonishing age of 23, as well as being a third-generation chief in her family. Archibald is part of the Taykwa Tagamou Nation which is located in Ontario. RoseAnne is dedicated to making the life and future of the Indigenous Peoples a better one moving forward, which is evident through her words, “I want to heal the path forward”. Archibald is now working on many projects and advocating for over six hundred and thirty Indigenous People.  

Today, we are exceedingly grateful to the Indigenous peoples who have founded and tended to the land we live on. We thank the Indigenous government leaders who have made a huge impact in Canada and acknowledge the differences they have made in our country today.