On Monday, Canada Post unveiled a new stamp design honoring the life and work of Nellie Cournoyea, the first Indigenous Canadian woman to become prime minister of a province or territory. She served as the sixth prime minister of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995.
Cournoyea, an Inuvialuit in Canada’s western Arctic, is the second woman to become prime minister in Canadian history, after Rita Johnston (who served as prime minister of British Columbia in 1991).
According to a Canada Post press release, the stamp is one of three Indigenous Leadership stamps that will be released on June 21.
The new design is the second in Canada Post’s multi-year Indigenous Leadership series. It features a photo of Cournoyea taken in 2022 by photographer Peggy Jay.
Before entering politics, Courneyea embarked on a career in radio and later as a field worker. She co-founded the Primitive Rights Commission, which helped negotiate the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, which resulted in the settlement of more than 90,000 square kilometers of land.
Elected to the legislature of the Northwest Territories in 1979, Cournoyea held numerous ministerial positions before being selected as prime minister. She played a key role in founding Nunavut and led the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation for 20 years.
The multi-year Indigenous Leadership stamp series, due out in 2022, highlights the contributions of modern First Nations, Inuit and Metis leaders.
According to the Canada Post, “These extraordinary people have dedicated their lives to preserving their culture and improving the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.”
This weekend, Canada Post will also be releasing stamps honoring Indigenous leaders George Manuel and Thelma Chalifoux.
