Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
GOVERNOR GENERAL’S HISTORY AWARDS
Government House
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
(please check against delivery)
Your Excellency, Educators, historians, citizens – welcome to Government House and this celebration of Canadians who have done an outstanding job of telling our country’s story.
As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my honour to welcome this gathering of people from across Canada to Treaty 1 land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. Our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis.
As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit.
Manitobans respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.
Canadians who are committed to a secure, healthy, and just future for our country and its people look forward to anticipate new challenges, opportunities and needs.
But it is equally important to look back to understand mistakes and achievements, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of who we are as a country.
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Greeks inscribed above the Temple of Apollo the words “Know thyself.” If you don’t know who you are, if you aren’t honest with yourself, how can you set out to deal with the world?
For a country, encouraging the study of history at all levels is one way that we can follow that ancient precept.
So I am very much encouraged and inspired to learn about the great work being done in the school system, in museums, by academic historians and by popular historians to advance understanding of the many stories that make up Canadian history.
And it gives me great pleasure that this national celebration of achievement in teaching, preservation, research and writing of history is taking place here in Manitoba. The Governor General’s Awards for History recognize the importance of the creative and diligent work done by teachers, historians, curators and others committed to national self-knowledge.
It is my honour, therefore, to introduce Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.
As a former ambassador to Denmark and ambassador on Circumpolar Affairs, as a leader with Inuit (ih-new-eat) Tapiriit (tuh pih-reet) Kanatami (kuh-nuh tuh-me) during constitutional and land claim negotiations, and as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Governor General Simon is somebody whose life is interwoven with important threads from Canada’s history.
I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to hear from her about the Governor General’s Awards for History and about the remarkable award recipients who are with us today.
Welcome to Manitoba, Your Excellency. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn from one another today. And thank you to all of the dedicated women and men working to enhance our knowledge of the past and of ourselves.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom