OTTAWA-Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, along with their daughter, Marie-Éden, will be visiting the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec on June 21 and 22, 2009.
On June 21, on the occasion of National Aboriginal Day, Their Excellencies will travel to Mashteuiatsh, the only Aboriginal community in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. They will celebrate the culture, history, timeless traditions and achievements of the First Nations people, who are our deepest roots in this vast country that is Canada. This visit will help to highlight the spirit of openness, sharing and community living that exists between the Mashteuiatsh Nation and the surrounding municipalities.
Since her installation in September 2005, the Governor General has made Aboriginal issues one of her priorities. She believes that the present does not yet recognize all of the wrongs of the past. One year ago, on June 11, 2008, she attended a ceremony on Parliament Hill to witness the Government of Canada's official Statement of Apology to the former students of Indian residential schools. In addition, Her Excellency recently hosted a discussion on truth and reconciliation to mark the one-year anniversary of that historic apology to the victims of that policy of forced assimilation, the effects of which have been painful and devastating to the Inuit, Métis and First Nations.
The regional visit will continue in the municipalities of Roberval, Chicoutimi and Jonquière on June 22. Their Excellencies will be meeting with the citizens of each community–who reflect the richness and vitality of their municipalities-and will acknowledge their accomplishments and ceaseless collective efforts to celebrate the history, possibilities and identity of their region.
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A detailed itinerary of the visit will be published shortly.
Media information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
meletourneau@gg.ca
Marthe Blouin
Official Spokesperson to the Governor General of Canada
613-997-0397
613-301-3379 (cell)
mblouin@gg.ca
