The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, helps connect Canadians with our shared history and better understand the present and each other. Each national historic designation makes a unique contribution to the complex tapestry of stories that make up our past and collectively contribute to our identity.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the appointment of Ms. Sarah Jerome as the Northwest Territories representative for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC).
An elder with the Gwich'in Nation, Ms. Jerome is highly involved in teaching Indigenous knowledge to youth in the Inuvik region. She spent over two decades as an educator in a variety of capacities and participated in the development of the Indigenous curriculum that is now taught throughout the territory. Ms. Jerome was the Language Commissioner for the Northwest Territories from 2009-2013. She continues to be actively involved in promoting the history, culture, traditions, and languages of northern people.
The Framework for History and Commemoration, introduced in 2019, supports the work of Parks Canada and the HSMBC in designating places, persons, and events of national historic significance and encourages new and diverse types of public nominations. The Framework supports this commitment and prioritizes an audience-focused approach that is more inclusive, and presents the diversity of Canada's history, including the history of Indigenous people.
Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked history in Canada. Parks Canada supports the Board's work with professional and administrative services, including the conduct of historical and archaeological research needed for evaluating applications. Together, Parks Canada and the Board ensure that subjects of national historic significance are recognized and these important stories are shared with Canadians.
