Why Representation Matters: The Honourable Mary Simon

When I was asked to write about The Honourable Mary Simon for She Is Wise, I didn’t want to just profile her career, I wanted to sit with the deeper meaning of what her leadership offers to Indigenous communities and the country as a whole.

Mary Simon is the first Inuk person to serve as Canada’s Governor General. But beyond that historic appointment, her story speaks to what it means to lead from cultural strength, lived experience, and quiet resilience. In a world that often demands loudness, Simon reminds us that stillness, clarity, and cultural grounding can be just as powerful...if not more.

She embodies what I often talk about in my workshops: representation without tokenism. Her appointment isn't just symbolic, it shifts policy, language, and perception. That’s where change happens.

“Mary Simon is showing us that we belong in these spaces, and that’s incredibly empowering for the next generation of Indigenous women.”
— Mikki Adams, Executive Director, Tungasuvvingat Inuit

Read the Full Article

She Is Wise — Fall/Winter 2024, pg. 24
View the full issue online

OCInsight

Representation is more than being seen — it’s about being heard, respected, and followed. If you're stepping into a leadership role today, I invite you to reflect on the wisdom of your ancestors, your community, and your culture. We need all forms of leadership, and the next generation is watching.

About Bryan Hansen

Bryan Hansen is a Métis educator, speaker, and writer. He’s the founder of OCI, where he helps organizations move beyond land acknowledgments into meaningful, nation-based reconciliation.

As a proud Two-Spirit person, Bryan brings a lens shaped by lived experience, cultural knowledge, and deep relational accountability. His work blends humour, truth-telling, and clarity, inviting audiences to go beyond optics and into transformation.