Gov. Gen Mary Simon visits Mealy Mountains to close out Labrador trip
Mary Simon awards Valerie Courtois the Coronation Medal while visiting Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon finished her first official visit to Labrador by visiting one of the country's most remote national parks, the Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve.
Simon travelled by helicopter Thursday to one of the traditional Innu camps, located at Swallow Harbour, known in Innu-aimun as Amiskᵁ Shippiss.
Located about 100 kilometres northeast of Happy Valley-Goose Bay in central Labrador, it's one of the sites where the Innu hope to welcome tourists in the future.
"They really, really were intrigued and really interested in coming back and learning more and supporting the idea and the vision that we want to expose to the world about this area and about the Innu culture as well," said Jack Penashue, the Innu Nation's superintendent of Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak.
"Innu people have always wanted to host non-Innu people, but they never had that opportunity because of the language [barrier], because of the culture," said Penashue. "So with [Simon's] visit, it was very, very welcoming event."
Innu tents were set up along the shore, where Penashue hopes to begin a trail to a nearby large waterfall. Simon ate traditional foods, including Innu doughnuts, salmon and red berry jam.
Innu elders, Innu Nation guardians, Parks Canada staff and Innu youths taking part in the second year of Innu Nation's Uinipeku Expedition were able to meet Simon.
The expedition is held in partnership with Students on Ice to help inform Innu Nation's decisions in their marine areas and teach Innu youths about their traditional lands and waters.
"It's really been kind of an eyeopener and it's really nice to see that as a kind of a kickoff to opening the national park," said Penashue.
There is still work to be done before the Innu begin formally bringing tourists to the park, with work to create trails to significant sites and waterfalls starting this fall, Penashue said.
Innu guardian awarded Coronation Medal
During her visit, Simon awarded the Coronation Medal to Valerie Courtois, a leader in Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship. The medal, which commemorates the coronation of King Charles, is given to people who have made a significant contribution to the country.
Courtois, the executive director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, holds honorary doctorates from the University of Guelph and Laval University, and was named to Time's list of the world's most influential climate leaders in 2023.
"It's really, really special to receive that honour, for her to have taken the time to do it here on the land in a part of the world that really set me on my own personal and professional path," Courtois said. "I'm really touched and honoured."
Courtois's medal is only the second of 100 medals that Simon will hand out.
Courtois hopes other Indigenous women will also see themselves as leaders and foster hope for the future.
"Everybody can make a difference in this world at so many scales," Courtois said. "I just think the sky's the limit."
Students on Ice anchored
A large vessel run by Students on Ice was anchored in the harbour. The Innu Nation rented the vessel to run an entirely Innu-focused research trip in their traditional lands, with Innu youths taking part and learning about the research and their lands.
Simon, one of the people who started the Students on Ice program 25 years ago, spoke to the Innu students about what they were learning, encouraging them to continue their education in both research and traditional knowledge.
"They're learning more about the land and the waters of this region. I think that's always important, for our Indigenous youth to be really involved in the expertise such as this one. And also, you know, the elder is here, they can learn from her, her knowledge as well," Simon said.
The Innu Nation Uinipekᵁ Expedition with Students on Ice started near Sheshatshiu and was heading toward Natuashish, conducting research along the way.
Penashue hopes they learn how science can blend with traditional knowledge.
"I'm hoping that they can absorb and like I said, be infused by those ideas, intrigued about those ideas. How can they do better? How can they make themselves better for themselves, for their community and for the future?" Penashue said.
"I think there's a whole potential of things that could be done."
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