Hello, 

It is a pleasure to join you in Treaty 4 territory, home of the Métis.

It’s a pleasure to be here. While this is far from being my first time in Saskatchewan, this is my first official visit as governor general. So thank you, Your Honours, for the warm welcome and for hosting us today.

These regional visits are an important way to highlight what is being done in communities to address issues of great concern, both here in Saskatchewan and across the country. Issues such as reconciliation, climate change, mental health and education. And everywhere I look, there are people helping to address these very issues.

Earlier today, I met with the Lieutenant Governor and the Premier. We spoke about the challenges Saskatchewan is facing and the issues that are affecting the people here. It’s important for me to learn about what you are going through, so that I can take your stories and share them with the rest of Canada.

Today, I also met with students at First Nations University. We talked about the importance of revitalizing Indigenous languages.

Everywhere I go, I always speak some Inuktitut, my mother tongue. I’m pleased to share my language with you today.

(In Inuktitut)

We need to protect Indigenous languages, to revitalize them, and allow them space to grow and thrive in Canada.

In Inuktitut, I said we need to protect Indigenous languages and revitalize them. They need space to grow and thrive in Canada.

Over the coming days, I look forward to learning more about innovative mental health initiatives across the province. I also look forward to engaging with Indigenous peoples, young people, newcomers, and so many in this province who inspire excellence and who are making a difference.

I thank all of you for being so welcoming.

I also want to recognize the beautiful diversity of people and perspectives that make this province so special. I hope you will join me in recognizing excellence across Saskatchewan by nominating someone you know for a Canadian honour, like the Order of Canada or the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. I want to know the stories of people who have made exceptional provincial or national contributions … anyone whose work has gone unrecognized.

There is a word in Inuktitut that is important to Inuit. I want to share it with you today. That word is ajuinnata. It is a vow, a promise, to never give up. It’s committing ourselves to action, no matter how daunting the cause may be.

Let us commit ourselves to change, to listening, to understanding each other and to embodying ajuinnata in all that we do. Let us continue building a country of which we can all be proud.

I look forward to continuing my visit in this beautiful province, which truly embodies its motto, “From Many Peoples Strength.”

Thank you.