The 2017 Governor General Awards this week honoured a number of people working tirelessly to make the lives of Indigenous people in Canada better. The awards were presented at Rideau Hall on Monday, June 19, 2017. 

Sylvia Maracle, executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

APTN News has a great interview with Maracle on her appointment. Watch it here. 

Gord Downie, lead singer of the Tragically Hip, was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his work raising awareness about the residential school system. Jacqueline Guest, an advocate for youth and adult literacy, was also appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada.

_{Gord Downie performing a song from his 'Secret Path' album at the Basement Revue on December 18, 2014.}

Other award recipients include advocate Mary Richardson, who was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Pam Glode-Desrochers, executive director of Halifax’s Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, Anita Campbell, former executive director of the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre in Thompson, Manitoba and Odelle Pike, president of the Bay St. George Cultural Circle in Newfoundland, were awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.

Visit the Governor General’s website for a full list of award recipients.