September 28, 2004 OTTAWA – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, will spend five days in the communities of Prince George, Terrace and Nass Valley, British Columbia, from October 6 to 11, 2004, marking the first visit of a governor general to the Nass Valley. The five-day tour will begin in Prince George on October 6, with a courtesy call on the mayor and city council, followed by a public discussion on “Canada’s role as a northern nation and the possibility of the circumpolar”. The next day, Governor General Clarkson will leave for Terrrace where she will make a courtesy call on the mayor and city council. In the afternoon, the Governor General will travel to New Aiyansh in the Nass Valley to attend an official welcoming ceremony at Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisga’a, the Nisga’a Nation’s seat of government. The Governor General will deliver a speech and present the Nisga’a Nation with its new heraldic emblem. Between October 8 and 11, Governor General Clarkson will also visit the communities of Gitwinksihlkw, Gingolx and Laxgalts’ap. On October 10, the Governor General invites everyone to a community reception and an Order of Canada presentation in New Aiyansh to honour the Reverend Canon Roderick Robinson. The visit will end with a roundtable discussion hosted by Chief Coucillor Nelson Leeson, on the future of First Nations in Confederation and the Aboriginal way in Canada, in Laxgalts’ap. The Governor General has committed herself to meeting as many people as possible in Canada’s northern regions, traveling to more than 41 communities in the North, many of which have never before been visited by a governor general. A detailed itinerary of the visit outlining media opportunities is attached. A news release regarding the presentation of the Order of Canada to Reverend Canon Roderick Robinson will be issued shortly. Media information Lucie Brosseau, Rideau Hall Press Office, Tel.: (613) 998-0287 or Cell.: (613) 222-2699 -30- ALL TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALL EVENTS ARE OPEN TO MEDIA UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. Wednesday, October 6 – Prince George 10:30 a.m. - Official arrival in Prince George. The Governor General will be greeted by His Worship Colin Kinsley, Mayor of the city of Prince George, and by Chief Barry Seymour of the Lheidli T’enneh Band. 11:00 a.m. - Courtesy call on the mayor and city council at city hall. 2:30 p.m. - Public discussion on the “Canada’s role as a northern nation and the possibility of the circumpolar” at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). 4:30 p.m. - Tour of the UNBC campus, accompanied by Dr. Charles J. Jago, President of the UNBC. Thursday, October 7 – Terrace and New Aiyansh Terrace 9:55 a.m. - Official arrival in Terrace. The Governor General will be greeted by His Worship Jack Talstra, Mayor of the City of Terrace, and by Chief Glenn Bennett of the Kitselas First Nation and Gerald Wesley, Hereditary Chief of the Kitsumkalum First Nation. Review of a guard of honour. 10:15 a.m. - Courtesy call on the mayor and city council at city hall. New Aiyansh 2:00 p.m. - Official arrival and welcoming ceremony at Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisga’a (Nisga’a Lisims government building). The Governor General will offer remarks and present the Nisga’a Nation with its new heraldic emblem. Afternoon - Tour of the community and of local artists’ studios including Alvar Tate, Warren Adams and Eric Clayton. Friday, October 8 – Nass Valley 9:30 a.m. - Roundtable discussion with current and former students of the Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a (WWN), (University/college, health and recreation centre). 11:30 a.m. - Visit and walking tour of Gitwinksihlkw. Noon - Official opening of the Wilp Saasoo Youth Centre and Wilp Wil Sii Sit’aatkws Daycare, followed by a community luncheon. 2:00 p.m. - Boat tour on the Nass River. Visit to the original Nisga’a community of Old Aiyansh. (CLOSED TO MEDIA) Saturday, October 9 – Nass Valley 10:00 a.m. - Visit to the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park. Sunday, October 10 – Gingolx, New Aiyansh and Portland Sound Gingolx 10:30 a.m. - Arrival in Gingolx. Walking tour of the community, accompanied by Chief Coucillor Nelson Clayton. 11:00 a.m. - The Governor General will attend the Thanksgiving service at Gingolx Christ Church. 12:30 p.m. - Luncheon. Please contact Lucie Brosseau at (613) 222-2699 for more details. (PHOTO OP ONLY) Portland Sound 2:00 p.m. - Boat tour in Portland Sound and Nass Bay. (CLOSED TO MEDIA) New Aiyansh 6:00 p.m. - New Aiyansh community reception and presentation of the Order of Canada at the Gitlakbamix Recreational and Cultural Centre. The Governor General will deliver a speech and invest the Reverend Canon Roderick Robinson as an Officer of the Order of Canada. A detailed news release will be issued shortly. Monday, October 11 – Laxgalts’ap Laxgalts’ap 10:00 a.m. - Arrival and walking tour of the community. 11:00 a.m. - Roundtable discussion on “the future of First Nations in Confederation and the Aboriginal Way in Canada” (location to be confirmed).The discussion will be hosted by Chief Coucillor Nelson Leeson. 12:30 p.m. - Community luncheon at Laxgalts’ap recreation centre
