OTTAWA—Josephine Mandamin baa, an environmentalist from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory who began the latest water walking ceremony trend is one of three inspirational individuals featured in Canada Post’s 2024 Indigenous Leaders Stamp Series. Ms. Mandamin began her spirit journey in 2019, but not before she inspired new generations to take up the task of honouring and protecting the water.
The postal service unveiled the Mandamin stamp in Thunder Bay this week, the latest in the three-stamp set to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.
“She never did this for any public recognition or status; she did it for the work and the spirit that moved her,” said Ms. Mandamin’s daughter, Regina Mandamin.
The stamp series, which debuted in 2022, highlights Indigenous people who devote themselves to the environment, preservation of their heritage and using their voices to create change. Over the past month, Canada Post announced the others featured in the upcoming stamp set as Métis artist Christi Belcourt of Toronto and Inuk artist Elisapie from Quebec. Ms. Belcourt is a familiar face on Manitoulin Island and the North Shore as well, noted for her moccasin topper project honouring MMIWG among other installations.
A ceremony commemorating Ms. Mandamin and her activism was held Tuesday in Thunder Bay and included members of the community and her friends and family.
She’s being honoured for her tireless protection of nibi—the water—and her awareness walks around the Great Lakes to bring attention to water pollution.
Ms. Mandamin first began her water-walking journey in 2003 after hearing a prophecy from Grand Chief Eddie Benton-Banais regarding the state of the water, according to Joanne Robertson of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, her spiritually adopted sister and author of the book ‘The Water Walker.’
Ms. Benton-Banais predicted that by 2023, water would cost as much as gold and asked Ms. Mandamin: ‘What are you going to do about it?’” Ms. Robertson recalled.
Her work inspired her niece, Autumn Peltier, who now makes her home in Ottawa, to step into the role of the Anishinabek Nation Water Commissioner, where she has taken Ms. Mandamin’s message to the globe.
Ms. Peltier earned national recognition in her teens, when she criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for choices he made for her people and the water. She continues to use her platform and voice to continue the conversation begun by her auntie.
The stamp advisory committee discusses dozens of inspiring individuals every year who could be honoured with stamps, according to Eli Yarhi, manager of stamp development at Canada Post. This year’s honourees were chosen with guidance from the Assembly of First Nations.
