Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde Looks Forward to Working with New Governor General of Canada

OTTAWA, July 13, 2017 /CNW/ - Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde congratulates Julie Payette and welcomes her in her role as the next Governor General of Canada.

"I welcome the new Governor General and, as the representative of the Crown, I look forward to meeting with her to discuss the relationship with First Nations," National Chief Perry Bellegarde said. "Julie Payette has a high benchmark to meet given recent Governors General have worked hard to build good relations with First Nations peoples, but she has an impressive background and experience and we look forward to continuing this positive relationship. I want to acknowledge the service and commitment of Governor General David Johnston and wish him well in all his future endeavours. There are some who were calling for an Indigenous Governor General and, while we may see that in our lifetime, we know that whoever assumes this position has a duty to uphold the honour of the Crown in all their work, and that includes the long-standing relationship with First Nations."

National Chief Bellegarde will be in contact with Rideau Hall to welcome the new Governor General and to identify a time to meet after she is sworn in and officially begins her duties.

The AFN is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.  Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations

Jamie Monastyrski, Press Secretary - National Chief's Office, 613-241-6789 ext. 222, 343-540-6179 (cell), [email protected]; Alain Garon, Bilingual Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 382, 613-292-0857 (cell), [email protected]; Michael Hutchinson, Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 254, 613-299-6330 (cell), [email protected]