Canada's first indigenous governor general pledges to help heal nation

Mary Simon attends a news conference where she is announced as the next Governor General of Canada in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada July 6, 2021. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The first indigenous Canadian to assume the post of governor general addressed the public in her first language, Inuktitut, on Tuesday, and promised to work toward healing the nation at what she described as an "especially reflective time."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Mary Simon, a former ambassador, journalist and Inuit community activist, to the largely ceremonial post that serves as the representative in Canada of its head of state, Queen Elizabeth.