Global Courant 2023-05-03 03:55:11
King Charles will meet with Canadian Indigenous leaders on Thursday.
The May 4 pre-coronation appointments at Buckingham Palace will feature First Nations Chief Roseanne Archibald, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed and Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron.
Governor General Mary Simon’s office confirmed to CTVNews.ca that she will also be attending.
“His Majesty has a long-standing relationship with the Indigenous people of Canada and this meeting is an example of how the King continues his journey of listening and deepening his understanding,” said a Buckingham Palace press release.
The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami organization represents Inuit people in Canada. Along with the Assembly of First Nations and the Métis National Council, the three are often referred to as National Indigenous Organizations or NIOs.
“I had a meeting with His Majesty earlier today as obviously it will be very busy on Saturday for the coronation,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday. “We talked about indigenous reconciliation, which is a priority of his.”
Cody Grossan assistant professor in Western University’s history and Indigenous studies departments, says Canadian Indigenous leaders have been meeting with monarchs since the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century.
“What’s new in this case is that these meetings are taking place leading up to the coronation, as part of the actual coronation ceremonies,” Groat told CTVNews.ca. “It’s a clear acknowledgment that Charles is meeting (Indigenous) leaders in the same way he is meeting heads of state this week.”
King Charles previously met with Canadian Indigenous leaders a year ago, on a three-day royal tour in May 2022 to mark his late mother’s seven decades on the throne.
“I think Charles is very aware of the cultural and political climate at the moment with regard to the perspectives of the monarchy,” Groat said. “One thing I always draw attention to is the fact that we currently have Mary Simon as the Governor General, an Inuk woman, the first Indigenous Governor General, as the official representative of King Charles III.”
Later that same day, Charles will also hold an audience with the Ashanti king of Ghana and the indigenous leaders of the Amazon. Charles will receive visits from dignitaries this week in the run-up to his coronation ceremony on Saturday 6 May. Groat says it is important that meetings with indigenous representatives take place “on an equal footing” with prime ministers.
“All our treaties are with the Crown, and that is because Indigenous peoples recognize ourselves as sovereign entities,” explains Groat. “Indigenous nations are sovereign within our territories and that is why we meet King Charles III as an equal.”
