SOI Congratulates Mary Simon, Canada’s 30th Governor General

(Inuktitut below)

The SOI Foundation congratulates Inuit leader, advocate, and SOI alumna Mary Simon for becoming the 30th Governor General of Canada!

Mary has been there every step of the way during the 21 year journey of ‘Students on Ice’ as an educator, mentor, advisor and friend. SOI brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and educators through educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. The result is youth across the North and around the world who have a deeper connection to the land, an understanding of and appreciation for Indigenous knowledge and culture, and of the importance of working together to build a healthy and more sustainable future. Mary and her husband Whit Fraser have been passionate supporters of SOI’s mission and have helped to strengthen this work with youth and communities across Canada and around the World.

“Mary is simply a magnificent person. Her lifetime of rich experience, her commitment to furthering the rights of Inuit, and to bridging understanding between Indigenous and non Indigenous people has made her a trusted, respected and impactful leader,” says SOI Founder & President Geoff Green. “My sincerest congratulations to Mary on becoming the next Governor General of Canada. She and Whit will breathe life and love into Rideau Hall that will resonate from coast to coast to coast. We celebrate this important step for Canada, and the opportunities her leadership brings at this moment in Canada’s journey.”

Learn more about today’s announcement through this CTV News article

Taakkua SOI Tungavingat quviasuqatigittiaqtanga Inungnit sivuliuqtiujuq, ammalu SOI-kunnit aniguisimajuq Mary Simon pisimaliqmagu 30-gijaulluni Governor General-nguliqmat Kanatamit!

Mary taikaniinginnattialauqtuq pigiaqnilimaanginnit ingiraniriliqtanganit 21 arraagunut Sikumit Ilinniaqtiujunut ilisaijiullluni, ikajuqtigijaulluni, uqatigijaulluni ammalu piqanniqlluni. SOI katittivangmata Nunaqaqqaaqsimajunit ammalu nunaqaqqaaqsimangittunit makkutujuunit ammalu ilisaijigijaujunit ilinniaqtitiqattaqtillugit umiaqjuakkut qaujisaqattaqniq Ukiuqtaqtumit ammalu Nunaqjuat attaanit Ukiuqtaqtunganit. Saqijaaqnirijanga tamainnik Ukiuqtaqtumit ammalu nanilimaaq nunaqjualimaamit katikannirutigingmajjuk nunamut, tukisiqatigiikanniqllutiglu ilisarijaukanniqllunilu Nunaqaqqaasimajut Qaujimajatuqangit ammalu iliqusirijangit, ammalu atuutiqattiaqninganit piliriqatigiingniq katujjijaraangata inuusiqattiaqniqmut ammalu suruittailimaniqmut sivunittinnit. Mary ammalu uinga Whit Fraser ikajuinnattiaqmattauq SOI-kut pijaksarijanginnut ammalu sangiktigiaqataullunigit iqanaijaqlluni makkutunik ikajuqllunigit ammalu nunalingnit tamainnik Kanata-mit ammalu nanituinnaq Nunaqjualimaamit.

“Mary inuttiavauttiaqmat. Aqnaq inuusilimaaminit angijualungmit atuqsimajaqaqmat, aqnaup piliriinnattiaqmagu suquimanaqsitikannirasukllugu pijunnautingit Inuit, ammalu tukisiqatigiikannirasuaqllunigit akunninganiittut Nunaqaqqaaqsimajut Kikkutuinait ammalu Nunaqaqqaaqsimangittut Kikkutuinnait ukpirijaksauttiaqtuq, tunganattiaqllunilu ammalu atuutigittiarunnaqmagu sivuliuqtiuniqminit,” uqaqtuq SOI Tungavingat & Isumatarijaujuq Geoff Green. “Alianaigusuqatigittiaqtara Mary pisimaliqmagu Governor General Katata-mit. Aqnaq ammalu Whit aniqniqattiarunnaqsivut ammalu pisimattiarunnaqmattik Rideau Inugiaktukuvigijanga saqijaaqtittittiarunnaqniaqmata avatilimaattianganit imatta imanganut tamainnik. Alianaigusuqatigittiaqtavut taanna sivulliqpaattiaq pigiarutigiliqtavut Kanata-mit, ammalu piviksaqtaqaliqmat sivuliuqtiuniarami attuuqnialiqtavut maanna Kanata ingiranirinialiqtanganit”.