Dignitaries, friends and family were present on the shores of Lake Superior for the unveiling of the Canada Post stamp paying tribute to Josephine Mandamin (1942-2019), better known as “Grandmother, Water Walker”.
There was no question of holding this event anywhere other than here
explained her daughter, Regina Mandamin, at the Spirit Garden on Lake Superior
.
She loved this place. She loved the water and she loved the Great Lakes.
Residential school survivor, Josephine Mandamin devoted her life to campaigning for the protection of water and the rights of indigenous communities to have access to drinking water, recalls the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Anishinabek Nation, Linda Debassige .
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Regina Mandamin is happy with the photo chosen because, she says, we see her mother looking to the future with hope.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Céline Marti
She has walked more than 27,000 km around the Great Lakes to advocate for water protection and remind people that water is alive.
Ms. Debassige adds that Canada Post’s decision to create a stamp bearing Josephine Mandamin’s image will allow her message to travel the world.
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Linda Debassige, chief of the Grand Council of the Anishinabek Nation, says that Josephine Mandamin had a great influence on her career.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Céline Marti
What Regina Mandamin wishes with all her heart.
Share this post, share this stamp with your friends and family and share its message that water should be honored.
She hopes this will encourage people to create their own connections with water and be more aware of the environment around them.
Visibly moved, Regina Mandamin reminded everyone present that Josephine Mandamin was above all a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a wife.
A mother she had to share and who had to make so many sacrifices.
Water and communities needed it
she explains. It wasn’t easy to share it, it was very difficult […] but we understood that his work was very important.
Recognize Indigenous people, finally
Indigenous stories are so important
says the vice-president of communications at Canada Post, John Hamilton when asked about the series of stamps dedicated to indigenous leaders.
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Young 8th grade students came on stage to close the event.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Céline Marti
All the more important since Canada Post has some catching up to do, since these stories have not been told in the past
he adds.
These stamps cross the country. They are tiny, but tell a very big and important story.
Josephine Mandamin is one of three indigenous leaders we are honoring this year through our stamps
confirms Mr. Hamilton.
Grandma Josephine was identified among the first on a list established by indigenous communities when we consulted them.
Last year, Canada Post worked with Indigenous communities to produce a series of stamps on residential schools.
This year, Canada Post unveiled a stamp dedicated to the Inuk artist Élisapie in Montreal last week and will unveil one featuring the artist Christi Belcourt in Ottawa on June 25.
