Indigenous Leaders (Canada 2022) | virtualstampclub.com

Updated June 16^th:
With the release of the Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier stamp, Canada Post revealed it is also issuing a souvenir sheet featuring all three stamps: Posted earlier:

[press release] [click on the name to go to that specific press release]
Canada Post to issue stamps honouring Indigenous leaders
Harry Daniels, Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier and Jose Kusugak to be commemorated in upcoming stamp set

This news release is also available to read in Michif, Cree and Inuktitut (click here).

OTTAWA – On June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – Canada Post will issue a new set of stamps to pay tribute to the lives and legacies of three Indigenous leaders. Harry Daniels, Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier and Jose Kusugak will each be featured on a stamp in recognition of their incredible commitment and contributions to strengthening the Métis, First Nations and Inuit communities they served.

The upcoming stamp set is the inaugural release in Canada Post’s new Indigenous Leaders stamp series. Prior to issuing the set on June 21, the stamps will each be unveiled at local events in Regina and Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.

Harry Daniels stamp unveiling event: June 13, 11 am, Regina, Sask.
Harry Daniels (1940-2004) was a politician, activist, writer and actor who dedicated his life to the rights and well-being of Métis and non-status Indians in Canada. Among his most important contributions was ensuring their inherent rights as Indigenous Peoples by lobbying to have them included as one of the Indigenous Peoples recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982, and recognized as “Indians” under the British North America Act, 1867. In March 2004, he was awarded the Order of the Métis Nation by the Métis National Council.

Jose Kusugak stamp unveiling event: June 14, 6 pm, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
Jose Kusugak (1950-2011) was an Inuit activist, linguist and broadcaster who played a critical role in the efforts that led to the creation of Nunavut in 1999 – for which many consider him a Father of Confederation. He dedicated his life to raising awareness of Inuit identity and issues in Canada, as well as promoting and preserving Inuit language and culture, and coined the phrase “First Canadians, Canadians First” to describe his people. Kusugak was also part of the first generation of Inuit children who were sent to residential schools.

Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier stamp unveiling: June 15, 2 pm, Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask.
Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier (b. 1954) spent nearly 40 years as leader of the Okanese First Nation in Saskatchewan – the most consecutive terms ever served by an elected First Nations chief in Canada. She led several projects related to education, wellness and social reform, while also working to preserve the culture, language and traditions of her people. In 2018, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. This spring, she was in the Indigenous delegation that met with Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system, of which she is a survivor.

Stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada starting June 21.

Images of the stamps and other products, and other resources will be available on the day of the local events.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada émettra des timbres en hommage à des dirigeants autochtones
Un jeu de timbres soulignera les réalisations de Harry Daniels, de la cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier et de Jose Kusugak

Ce communiqué est aussi disponible en michif, cri et inuktitut (cliquer ici).

OTTAWA – Le 21 juin, à l’occasion de la Journée nationale des peuples autochtones, Postes Canada émettra un nouveau jeu de timbres pour rendre hommage à la vie et à l’héritage de trois dirigeants autochtones. Harry Daniels, la cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier et Jose Kusugak seront chacun en vedette sur un timbre émis en reconnaissance de leur engagement incroyable et de leur contribution aux communautés métisses, inuit et des Premières Nations qu’ils ont servies.

Lancé prochainement, ce jeu de timbres constitue le premier volet d’une nouvelle série de Postes Canada consacrée aux dirigeants autochtones. Avant le 21 juin, jour d’émission, les vignettes seront dévoilées lors d’événements qui se tiendront à Regina et à Fort Qu’Appelle, en Saskatchewan, et à Rankin Inlet, au Nunavut.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à Harry Daniels : le 13 juin, à 11 h, à Regina, en Saskatchewan
Politicien engagé, militant, écrivain et acteur, Harry Daniels (1940-2004) a consacré sa vie aux droits et au bien-être des Métis et des Indiens non inscrits au Canada. Parmi ses contributions les plus importantes, il a veillé à ce que leurs droits inhérents en tant que peuples autochtones soient inclus dans la Loi constitutionnelle de 1982 et à ce qu’ils soient reconnus en tant qu’Indiens en vertu de l’Acte de l’Amérique du Nord britannique, 1867. En mars 2004, il a été décoré de l’Ordre de la Nation métisse par le Ralliement national des Métis.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à Jose Kusugak : le 14 juin, à 18 h, à Rankin Inlet, au Nunavut
Activiste, linguiste et communicateur inuit, Jose Kusugak (1950-2011) est considéré par certains comme un Père de la Confédération pour son rôle clé dans la création du Nunavut en 1999. Il a voué sa vie à sensibiliser les gens à l’identité et aux enjeux des Inuit au Canada, de même qu’à promouvoir et à préserver la langue et la culture de son peuple, qu’il qualifiait de premiers Canadiens et de Canadiens en premier. Jose Kusugak faisait également partie de la première génération d’enfants inuit envoyés dans les pensionnats autochtones.

Dévoilement du timbre consacré à la cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier : le 15 juin, à 14 h, à Fort Qu’Appelle, en Saskatchewan
La cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier (née en 1954) passe près de 40 ans à la tête de la Première Nation d’Okanese, en Saskatchewan. Aucun autre chef des Premières Nations élu au Canada n’exerce autant de mandats consécutifs qu’elle. Elle dirige plusieurs projets liés à l’éducation, au bien-être et à l’aide sociale, tout en travaillant à préserver la culture, la langue et les traditions de son peuple. En 2018, elle est reçue Membre de l’Ordre du Canada. Ce printemps, elle faisait partie de la délégation autochtone qui a rencontré le pape François au Vatican pour discuter du rôle de l’Église catholique dans le système des pensionnats, dont elle est une survivante.

Les timbres et les articles de collection seront en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays à partir du 21 juin.

Added June 13^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post issues commemorative stamp recognizing Métis leader Harry Daniels
The new issue honours Daniels’ work to advance the rights and well-being of Métis in Canada

REGINA – At an event today in Regina, Canada Post unveiled a new commemorative stamp recognizing the accomplishments of Métis leader Harry Daniels. A politician, activist, writer and actor, Daniels dedicated his life to the rights and well-being of Métis and non-status Indians in Canada.

This is one of three stamps that will officially be released on June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – in recognition of the contributions each Indigenous leader has made to their communities.

About Harry Daniels
Born in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, Daniels (1940-2004) – known for his quick wit and joie de vivre – served as an outspoken advocate for his people for more than 40 years. Many consider his contributions to Métis rights to be without equal in modern-day Canada.

First elected to office in 1972 as vice-president of the Métis Association of Alberta (now Métis Nation of Alberta), Daniels would go on to represent Indigenous and Métis Peoples provincially, nationally and internationally. He was elected secretary-treasurer of the Native Council of Canada (now Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) in 1974 and later served as its president and chief executive officer.

One of Daniels’ most important contributions was successfully leading an effort to convince the federal government to enshrine the inherent rights of Métis and non-status Indians in the new Constitution. As a result, Métis are included, along with First Nations (named as Indians) and Inuit, as Indigenous (identified as Aboriginal) Peoples in the Constitution Act, 1982.

For Daniels, however, constitutional recognition was just a first step. Since 1867, the federal government had recognized only “status Indians” as being its jurisdictional responsibility. The provincial governments had also not claimed responsibility for Métis and non-status Indians. To this end, in 1999, Daniels and several other plaintiffs launched Daniels v. Canada to determine the federal government’s relationship with the two groups. The case was not decided until 2016, 12 years after Daniels’ death, when the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Court ruling that Métis and non-status Indians are Indians under the British North America Act, 1867, and therefore, come under the federal government’s jurisdiction.

Over his lifetime, Daniels wrote several books on Métis issues and many articles and papers on the Constitution and Indigenous rights. An actor of both stage and film, he also held degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa (honorary doctorate). During his later years, he taught Métis history at the University of Saskatchewan and guest lectured at universities across Canada. In March 2004, Daniels was awarded the Order of the Métis Nation by the Métis National Council.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
This stamp set is the inaugural release in Canada Post’s new multi-year Indigenous Leaders series. On June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – Canada Post will issue three stamps in honour of Indigenous leaders Harry Daniels, Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier and Jose Kusugak.

Stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

Canada Post video:

Added June 14^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post unveils new stamp honouring Inuit leader Jose Kusugak
Considered a Father of Confederation for his role in the efforts that led to the creation of Nunavut

RANKIN INLET, NUNAVUT – At an event today in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada Post unveiled a new commemorative stamp recognizing the accomplishments of Jose Kusugak. An Inuit activist, linguist and award-winning broadcaster, Kusugak played a critical role in efforts that led to the creation of Nunavut in 1999, for which many consider him a Father of Confederation.

About Jose Kusugak (1950-2011)
Born in Repulse Bay, Northwest Territories (now Naujaat, Nunavut), Jose Kusugak dedicated his life to raising awareness of Inuit identity and issues. He coined the phrase “First Canadians, Canadians First” to describe the place of his people within Canada.

A survivor of the residential school system, Kusugak began his own career as a teacher. He worked at the University of Saskatchewan’s Eskimo Language School and the Churchill Vocational Centre in Manitoba, where he taught Inuktitut and Inuit history and later served as a cultural and linguistic adviser. As head of the Inuit Language Commission in the 1970s, he was involved in developing a standardized, dual writing system for Inuktitut, using Roman orthography and syllabics.

In 1971, he joined the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC), where his natural abilities as a communicator helped in his efforts to disseminate and explain the concept of land claims to Inuit communities. To further spread the land claims message across the Arctic, Kusugak joined CBC North in 1980 as area manager for the Kivalliq region. After 10 years with CBC, he joined the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, introducing new areas of programming in Inuktitut.

From 1994 to 2000, Kusugak was president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. The organization played a pivotal role in negotiating the land claim that created Nunavut, which became a territory on April 1, 1999.

In 2000, he was elected president of the ITC, whose name was subsequently changed to the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), which means “Inuit are united in Canada.” After leaving the ITK in 2006, Kusugak continued to work in regional politics, negotiating on behalf of the Inuit on a variety of important issues.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
This stamp set is the inaugural release of Canada Post’s new multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

On June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – Canada Post will issue three stamps in honour of Indigenous leaders Harry Daniels, Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier and Jose Kusugak.

The Canada Post video:

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada dévoile un nouveau timbre en l’honneur du dirigeant inuit Jose Kusugak
Il est considéré par certains comme un Père de la Confédération pour son rôle clé dans la création du Nunavut

RANKIN INLET, NUNAVUT – Postes Canada a dévoilé aujourd’hui un nouveau timbre commémoratif soulignant les réalisations de Jose Kusugak lors d’un événement qui s’est tenu à Rankin Inlet, au Nunavut. Activiste, linguiste et communicateur primé, Jose Kusugak est considéré par certains comme un Père de la Confédération pour son rôle clé dans la création du Nunavut en 1999.

La vignette qui lui est consacrée est l’une de trois qui seront officiellement lancées le 21 juin à l’occasion de la Journée nationale des peuples autochtones. Cette émission vise à souligner la contribution de chacun des dirigeants autochtones à leur communauté.

À propos de Jose Kusugak (1950-2011)
Né à Repulse Bay, aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest (aujourd’hui Naujaat, au Nunavut), Jose Kusugak voue sa vie à sensibiliser les gens à l’identité et aux enjeux des Inuit au Canada. Grand défenseur de son peuple, il le qualifie de premiers Canadiens et de Canadiens en premier.

Survivant du système des pensionnats autochtones, Jose Kusugak entame sa carrière comme enseignant à l’Eskimo Language School de l’Université de la Saskatchewan et au Churchill Vocational Centre du Manitoba, où il devient ensuite conseiller linguistique et culturel. En tant que chef de la Commission de la langue Inuit dans les années 1970, il participe à la création d’un système d’écriture unifié basé à la fois sur l’alphabet romain et l’écriture syllabique.

En 1971, il se joint à l’Inuit Tapirisat du Canada (ITC), où son talent de communicateur l’aide à expliquer le concept de revendication territoriale aux communautés inuit. Pour répandre encore davantage son message sur le sujet dans l’Arctique, Jose Kusugak se joint à CBC North en 1980 à titre de chef de secteur pour la région de Kivalliq. Dix ans plus tard, il se joint à l’Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, où il introduit de nouveaux segments de programmation en inuktitut.

De 1994 à 2000, Jose Kusugak est président de la Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., une organisation jouant un rôle essentiel dans la négociation de la revendication territoriale du Nunavut, qui devient un territoire le 1er avril 1999.

En 2000, il est élu président de l’ITC, qui est par la suite renommée l’Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), ce qui signifie « les Inuit sont unis au Canada ». Après son départ de l’ITK en 2006, Jose Kusugak continue à travailler en politique régionale et à mener des négociations au nom des Inuit pour divers enjeux d’importance.

À propos de la série de timbres sur les dirigeants autochtones
Ce jeu de timbres constitue le premier volet d’une nouvelle série pluriannuelle de Postes Canada consacrée aux dirigeants autochtones.

Le 21 juin, à l’occasion de la Journée nationale des peuples autochtones, Postes Canada émettra trois timbres en l’honneur des dirigeants autochtones Harry Daniels, la cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier et Jose Kusugak.

Added June 15^th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp commemorates extraordinary leadership of Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier
The champion of social reform served the most consecutive terms by an elected First Nations chief in Canada

FORT QU’APPELLE, SASKATCHEWAN – Today, at an event in Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask., Canada Post unveiled its commemorative stamp recognizing the incredible 39-year leadership of Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier. As leader of the Okanese First Nation in Saskatchewan, she served the most consecutive terms ever by an elected First Nations chief in Canada.

A committed advocate of social reform, Day Walker-Pelletier was part of the Indigenous delegation that met with Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier this year to discuss the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system.

This is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will officially be released on June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – in recognition of the contributions each Indigenous leader has made to their communities.

About Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier
During her nearly 40 years as leader of the Okanese First Nation, on Treaty 4 territory near Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask., Day Walker-Pelletier – who was born in 1954 in Regina – forged her reputation as a matriarch and champion of her people. She led numerous projects related to education, wellness and social reform, while also working to preserve the culture, language and traditions of her people.

In 1981, Day Walker-Pelletier ran for and took office as Chief of the Okanese First Nation. Initially, she intended to serve a single term. However, the community repeatedly asked that she retain her position and she ended up serving 15 two-year terms along with three three-year terms. After her last term ended in 2020, she did not seek re-election.

Throughout her leadership, she fought to improve the quality of life of the Okanese and to protect the culture, rights and traditions of all First Nations people through her involvement in numerous tribal, provincial and national initiatives on social reform, health and wellness, and education. She was an advocate of many important issues including violence against women, drug abuse, economic development, housing, health and education.

A survivor of the residential school system, Day Walker-Pelletier was particularly passionate about improving the lives of women and children. In 2021, a year after she retired, her decade-long dream to reintegrate Indigenous foster children into their families culminated in the opening of the Day walker Home Fire Family Centre.

Day Walker-Pelletier was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018 and invested in 2019. She also received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2021.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series
This stamp set is the inaugural release of Canada Post’s new multi-year Indigenous Leaders series.

On June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – Canada Post will issue three stamps in honour of Indigenous leaders Harry Daniels, Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier and Jose Kusugak.

Canada Post video on Walker-Pelletier:

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Un nouveau timbre souligne le leadership exceptionnel de la cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier
La défenseure de l’aide sociale a exercé plus de mandats consécutifs qu’aucun autre chef des Premières Nations élu au Canada

FORT QU’APPELLE, SASKATCHEWAN – Postes Canada a aujourd’hui dévoilé son timbre commémoratif soulignant les 39 ans de leadership de la cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier lors d’un événement qui s’est tenu à Fort Qu’Appelle, en Saskatchewan. À titre de leader de la Première Nation d’Okanese, elle a exercé plus de mandats consécutifs qu’aucun autre chef des Premières Nations élu au Canada.

Ardente défenseure de l’aide sociale, Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier faisait partie de la délégation autochtone qui a rencontré le pape François au Vatican plus tôt cette année pour discuter du rôle de l’Église catholique dans le système des pensionnats.

À propos de la cheffe Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier
À la tête de la Première Nation d’Okanese du territoire du Traité no 4 situé près de Fort Qu’Appelle, en Saskatchewan, pendant près de 40 ans, Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier (née en 1954 à Regina) se forge une réputation de matriarche et de militante. Elle dirige plusieurs projets liés à l’éducation, au bien-être et à l’aide sociale, tout en travaillant à préserver la culture, la langue et les traditions de son peuple.

En 1981, Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier se présente aux élections et devient la cheffe de la Première Nation d’Okanese. Elle a d’abord l’intention d’exercer un seul mandat, mais la communauté lui demande à plusieurs reprises de rester en poste; elle finit par cumuler 15 mandats de deux ans et trois mandats de trois ans. À la fin de son dernier mandat en 2020, elle décide de ne pas se représenter aux élections.

Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier se bat pour améliorer la qualité de vie du peuple d’Okanese et protéger la culture, les droits et les traditions des Premières Nations en dirigeant plusieurs projets tribaux, provinciaux et nationaux liés à l’aide sociale, à la santé, au bien-être et à l’éducation. Elle défend ainsi de nombreuses causes importantes, notamment la violence faite aux femmes, la toxicomanie, le développement économique, le logement, la santé et l’éducation.

Survivante du système des pensionnats autochtones, elle est particulièrement déterminée à améliorer la vie des femmes et des enfants. Souhaitant depuis une décennie voir les jeunes Autochtones placés dans des foyers d’accueil retrouver leur famille, elle voit son rêve se réaliser un an après son départ à la retraite avec l’ouverture du Daywalker Home Fire Family Centre en 2021.

Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier est nommée membre de l’Ordre du Canada en 2018 et est investie en 2019. Elle reçoit également l’Ordre du Mérite de la Saskatchewan en 2021.