| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | June 21, 2022 |
| Year | 2022 |
| Quantity | 600,000 |
| Denomination |
 PERMANENT™ (P).Current monetary value: $0.92. |
| Series | Indigenous Leaders |
| Series Time Span | 2022 - 2023 |
| Postal Administration | Canada |
| Condition | Name | Avg Value |
|---|
Pay tribute to Jose Kusugak – Inuit activist, linguist and broadcaster – with this booklet of 6 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps.
The front of the booklet features an enlargement of the stamp image. The inside of the booklet features a photo of a young Kusugak (right) with other family members, circa 1955.
This stamp, part of the inaugural three-stamp Indigenous Leaders issue, pays tribute to Kusugak, who, through his decades of hard work, was a major contributor to securing the land claims that led to the creation of Nunavut in 1999.
The stamp, designed by Andrew Perro, features a photograph of Jose Kusugak, along with his name written in Inuktitut.
Considered by some to be a Father of Confederation for his pivotal role in the creation of Nunavut, Jose Kusugak (1950-2011) dedicated his life to raising awareness of Inuit identity and issues in Canada. Kusugak was born in Repulse Bay, Northwest Territories (now Naujaat, Nunavut) and attended residential school as a child. He began his career as a teacher, working at the University of Saskatchewan’s Eskimo Language School and the Churchill Vocational Centre in Manitoba, where he 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 the years leading up to Nunavut’s creation, Kusugak used his natural ability as a communicator to explain the land claim concept to Inuit communities across the Arctic and lent his talent and leadership to many other roles. An award-winning broadcaster and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Kivalliq Inuit Association, Kusugak was an honest and devoted advocate for his people, whom he described as “First Canadians, Canadians First.”
Pay tribute to Jose Kusugak, Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier and Harry Daniels with this souvenir sheet for the Indigenous Leaders stamp issue.
Designed by Andrew Perro, it features all three stamps and a background photograph pertaining to each leader:
This stamp issue honours three outstanding Indigenous leaders. Over the years, Canada Post has honoured other Indigenous leaders, artists and politicians who have brought positive and lasting changes to Canadian society.
Considered by some to be a Father of Confederation for his pivotal role in the creation of Nunavut, Jose Kusugak (1950-2011) dedicated his life to raising awareness of Inuit identity and issues in Canada. Kusugak was born in Repulse Bay, Northwest Territories (now Naujaat, Nunavut) and attended residential school as a child. He began his career as a teacher, working at the University of Saskatchewan’s Eskimo Language School and the Churchill Vocational Centre in Manitoba, where he 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 the years leading up to Nunavut’s creation, Kusugak used his natural ability as a communicator to explain the land claim concept to Inuit communities across the Arctic and lent his talent and leadership to many other roles. An award-winning broadcaster and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Kivalliq Inuit Association, Kusugak was an honest and devoted advocate for his people, whom he described as “First Canadians, Canadians First.”
No other elected First Nations chief in Canada has served more consecutive terms than Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier (b. 1954, Regina, Saskatchewan). During her nearly 40 years as leader of the Okanese First Nation, on Treaty 4 territory near Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, she forged her reputation as a matriarch and champion of her people. Day Walker-Pelletier 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. A survivor of the residential school system, she was particularly passionate about bettering 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 Daywalker Home Fire Family Centre. On her appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2018, Tribal Chief Edmund Bellegarde praised the positive impacts of her long-standing leadership: “She casts a big shadow and her voice is thundering; when she speaks, people listen.”
Known for his sharp wit, zest for life and the broad-brimmed black hat that he sported in honour of his bison-hunting forefathers, Harry Daniels (1940-2004) wore his Métis heritage with pride. The charismatic and outspoken politician, activist and actor was born in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, and served in the Royal Canadian Navy before entering university, where he developed a lifelong interest in Indigenous affairs. He founded or served as a member of a number of Métis organizations and was elected president of the Native Council of Canada and its successor, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. Daniels was a force to be reckoned with and successfully led an effort to have the Métis included as one of the Indigenous peoples recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982. In 1999, he and several other plaintiffs launched a Federal Court case that – a dozen years after his death – resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that Métis and non-status Indians are Indians under the British North America Act, 1867, and, therefore, under federal jurisdiction. For his many contributions, he was awarded the Order of the Métis Nation.
Pay tribute to Jose Kusugak – Inuit activist, linguist and broadcaster – with this Official First Day Cover (OFDC).
The OFDC cover features a photo of a young Kusugak (right) with other family members, circa 1955.
This stamp, part of the inaugural three-stamp Indigenous Leaders issue, pays tribute to Kusugak, who, through his decades of hard work, was a major contributor to securing the land claims that led to the creation of Nunavut in 1999.
The cancellation site is Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, the long-time home of Jose Kusugak. The cancellation date – June 21 – is National Indigenous Peoples Day.
The stamp, designed by Andrew Perro, features a photograph of Jose Kusugak, along with his name written in Inuktitut.
Considered by some to be a Father of Confederation for his pivotal role in the creation of Nunavut, Jose Kusugak (1950-2011) dedicated his life to raising awareness of Inuit identity and issues in Canada. Kusugak was born in Repulse Bay, Northwest Territories (now Naujaat, Nunavut) and attended residential school as a child. He began his career as a teacher, working at the University of Saskatchewan’s Eskimo Language School and the Churchill Vocational Centre in Manitoba, where he 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 the years leading up to Nunavut’s creation, Kusugak used his natural ability as a communicator to explain the land claim concept to Inuit communities across the Arctic and lent his talent and leadership to many other roles. An award-winning broadcaster and the president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Kivalliq Inuit Association, Kusugak was an honest and devoted advocate for his people, whom he described as “First Canadians, Canadians First.”
Jose Kusugak (1950-2011) is considered a Father of Confederation by some for his pivotal role in the creation of Nunavut. Born in Repulse Bay, Northwest Territories (now Naujaat, Nunavut), he attended residential school and later worked as a teacher, linguist, award-winning broadcaster and head of several major Inuit organizations. He was involved in developing a standardized, dual writing system for Inuktitut and explained the land claim concept to communities across the Arctic – coining the phrase “First Canadians, Canadians First” to describe his people. He is pictured on his stamp, along with his name written in Inuktitut.
Proud advocates for the rights and well-being of their people, the three modern-day Indigenous leaders in this inaugural series are honoured for dedicating their lives to preserving Métis, First Nations and Inuit culture and improving the quality of life of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
The second set of stamps in the Indigenous Leaders series honours three Métis, First Nations and Inuit leaders whose tireless efforts to protect the rights, culture and welfare of their people had a profound influence on Canada’s history.