Josephine Mandamin among 3 honourees in Canada Post's 2024 Indigenous Leaders Stamp Series

Josephine Mandamin, an environmentalist fromWikwemikong First Nation in northwestern Ontario, is one of three inspirational individuals featured inCanada Post's 2024 Indigenous Leaders Stamp Series.

The postal service unveiled the Mandamin stampin Thunder Bay, Ont., 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," Mandamin'sdaughter, Regina Mandamin, said of her mother, who died in 2019.

The stamp series, which debuted in 2022, highlights Indigenous people who devote themselves to the environment, preservation of their heritageand using their voices to create change. Over the past month, Canada Post announced the others featured in the upcoming stamp set are Mtis artist Christi Belcourt of Toronto and Inuk artist Elisapie from Quebec.

The ceremony commemoratingMandamin and her activism was held Tuesday in Thunder Bay, and includedmembers of the community and her friends and family.

She's being honoured for her tireless protection ofnibithe waterand her awareness walks around the Great Lakes to bring attention to water pollution.

WATCH| Honouring Josephine Mandamin:

Honouring Josephine Mandamin

3 months ago

Duration 2:27

Canada Post is honouring Josephine Mandamin in its third annual Indigenous Leaders stamp series. Family and friends gathered in Thunder Bay, Ont., to commemorate Mandamin and the work she did as an environmentalist and water protection advocate.

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 bookThe Water Walker.

Benton-Banais predicted that by 2023, water would cost as much as goldand asked Mandamin: "What are you going to do about it?" Robertson said.

It inspired Mandamin to begin her water walks.

Her daughter looks at her in awe because of all that she has overcome and accomplished, Regina Mandamin said, describingher mother as "humble."

Josephine's legacy of protecting water was passed on to her great niece, Autumn Pelletier, who is also a water advocate.

Pelletierearned national recognition in her teens, whenshe 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 conversationbegun by her auntie.

Mandamin'slegacy has left a lasting impression on Robertson, who first met herin university after Mandamin had already walked around the Great Lakes, Pelletiersaid.

Robertson was inspired by Mandamin's message and began helping co-ordinate walks and contributing to bringing awareness to the cause.

Robertson, who had been adopted and raised by a family in southern Ontario,said she founda trueconnection to Mandamin.

"My life for a time often felt like I was floating down two separate rivers, but when I did my work with Josephine, she accepted me as I was and it felt like my two rivers came together in one big lake so I felt whole," Robertson said.

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, he said.

"This ongoing series is a means to tell these important stories of Indigenous leaders from across the land hoping that everyone can see themselves reflected in this stamp program," Yarhi added.

People can purchase the stamps and collectibleson the Canada Post website or at any postal outlet across the country.