September 23, 2005, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference received the first Governor General’s Northern Medal yesterday in a ceremony that took place at Rideau Hall. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, praised Ms. Watt-Cloutier as “an eloquent spokesperson for the North and an advocate for Inuit rights, not only across Canada but also internationally. As Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), she has brought attention to the problems of global warming and its particular impact on the Arctic”. The Governor Generals comments can be found at www.gg.ca
In reply, Ms. Watt-Cloutier spoke from the heart. She thanked the Governor General for her commitment to the North, including the circumpolar tour undertaken in 2003, in which Mr. Watt-Cloutier participated. In particular, Ms. Watt-Cloutier said the Governor General had helped Canadians understand and appreciate the central place of the North in our national consciousness.
The Governor General’s Northern Medal will be awarded annually to a citizen whose actions and achievements have contributed to the evolution and constant reaffirmation of the Canadian North as part of our national identity.
Ms. Watt-Cloutier’s ongoing contributions to Inuit and northern Indigenous Peoples rights has brought international attention to pollution and climate change in the Arctic and earned her international recognition, including the 2005 United Nations Champion of the Earth Award and the Sophie Prize from the Oslo-based Sophie Foundation. Her passion and dedication have put a “human face ” the challenges that the Arctic and its people confront every day.
Ms. Watt-Cloutier was very honoured to receive the Northern Medal, “It is very important that the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of these global environmental issues to Inuit and the connectivity of all our actions — protect the Arctic and save the planet.”
For additional information contact: Sheila Watt-Cloutier 867-979-4661