Latest news with #Tsúut'ínà
Calgary Herald
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Bruce Starlight honoured for work in preserving Tsuut'ina language with postage stamp
Starting June 20, Canadians buying stamps for their mail will notice new faces on the postage — including that of Indigenous leader Bruce Starlight. Article content Starlight will have his face on a stamp, alongside Julia Haogak and Sophie McDougall, as tribute for their work in preserving the culture and languages of their Inuit, Metis and First Nations communities. Article content Article content The stamps are to be unveiled separately, with the one featuring Starlight unveiled Thursday at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex and Jim Starlight Centre in Tsuut'ina Nation. Article content The stamps featuring Haogak and McDougall were unveiled June 13 and 17, respectively. Article content Article content 'Not everybody gets the honour to be put on a postage stamp,' Starlight said during Thursday's unveiling. Article content One of the last remaining fluent speakers of the Tsúut'ínà language, Starlight founded an institution in 2008 dedicated to instructing others in the language and developing materials for Tsúut'ínà instruction, including dictionaries and recordings. He served numerous roles since the 1970s as councillor, language commissioner for the Tsúut'ínà chief and council, and the first elected Indigenous director on the Calgary Stampede board of directors. After his retirement in 2022, he continued to advocate and advise on Indigenous issues. Article content His most recent contribution is a collaboration on a collection of traditional narratives and historical accounts in Tsúut'ínà and a Tsúut'ínà-to-English glossary. Article content Article content 'There's very few of us left,' he said, of those who can speak the language. 'And of the 24, only 12 of us can get around. So we're saving an actual dead language.' Article content Article content Tyler Thomas, director of Indigenous and Northern Affairs at Canada Post, said the unveiling comes as part of the company's annual initiative to release an Indigenous leader stamp series. Article content Now in its fourth year, the company works with the Assembly of First Nations, Metis National Council and the Inuit Tapirit Kanatami to identify individuals worthy of being placed on the stamps. Article content
Malaysian Reserve
11 hours ago
- General
- Malaysian Reserve
New stamp honours First Nations Elder and Knowledge Keeper Bruce Starlight
Starlight has spent more than five decades preserving his language and culture This news release is also available to read in Tsúut'ínà. TSÚUT'ÍNÀ NATION, AB, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ – A gathering was held in Tsúut'ínà Nation near Calgary, Alberta, today as Canada Post celebrated an upcoming stamp featuring Bruce Starlight. Known as Dit'óní Didlishí (Spotted Eagle), Starlight is an Elder and Knowledge Keeper who has spent more than five decades advocating to save his language and culture from extinction. This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be issued tomorrow, June 20 – the day before National Indigenous Peoples Day. The set is the fourth in Canada Post's multi-year Indigenous Leaders series. Starlight's life and legacy Born in 1947 on the Tsúut'ínà Nation, Starlight is the son of the late Chief James 'Jim' Starlight, who served as chief of the First Nations community for more than a decade during the 1950s and early 60s. Although he had to leave high school to help support his family after his father died, Starlight went on to study linguistics at the University of Calgary later in life. Frustrated by a lack of support for the teaching of Tsúut'ínà, he began to document its alphabet, words and phrases. In the 1970s, Starlight served as a councillor on the Tsúut'ínà Chief and Council and assisted Elder George Heavenfire in teaching participants about Tsúut'ínà history during the Sarcee Cultural Survival Camp. In 1992, he became the first elected Indigenous director on the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors, after serving as the first chairman of the First Nations Events Committee. One of the last fluent speakers of the Tsúut'ínà language, in 2008 Starlight was among the founders of the Tsúut'ínà Gunáhà Násʔághà – an institute dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of his mother tongue. An accomplished teacher and speaker, he has developed extensive materials for Tsúut'ínà instruction, including dictionaries and recordings. Although he retired as language commissioner for the Tsúut'ínà Nation in 2022, Starlight continues to serve as a speaker and advisor on Indigenous issues. He recently collaborated on a collection of traditional narratives and historical accounts in Tsúut'ínà and a Tsúut'ínà-to-English glossary. In 2023, Starlight received an honorary doctorate from Mount Royal University. About the stamp The stamp features a photograph of Starlight wearing a headdress that identifies him as an elected official. He bears a medallion presented to the leaders of Treaty First Nations commemorating the 125th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 7; it was presented to him by the president of the Navajo Nation. Starlight also wears a Hudson's Bay blanket coat. A trade item between the Indigenous Peoples and the settlers, the Hudson's Bay blanket can symbolize entering and leaving the world wrapped in a blanket. The stamp is designed by Andrew Perro, featuring photography by Richard Anseeuw and background imagery from iStock. It is printed by Lowe-Martin. The issue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ stamps, an Official First Day Cover and a souvenir sheet. The cancellation site is Calgary (near Starlight's birthplace) and the cancellation mark bears an image of an eagle. About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series The Indigenous Leaders series was launched in 2022 and highlights the contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders who dedicated their lives to preserving their culture and improving the quality of life of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This year, Canada Post will issue three stamps in honour of Julia Haogak Ogina, Sophie McDougall and Bruce Starlight. There were two other stamp events this month: On Friday, June 13, the stamp honouring Julia Haogak Ogina was celebrated in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories. On Tuesday, June 17, the stamp commemorating Sophie McDougall was celebrated in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The new stamps and collectibles will be available at and select postal outlets across Canada starting June 20. For links to images of the stamps and other products: Access an external folder with high-resolution images. Watch the video and read the Canada Post magazine article. Social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. TM Trademark of Canada Post Corporation.
Cision Canada
13 hours ago
- General
- Cision Canada
New stamp honours First Nations Elder and Knowledge Keeper Bruce Starlight Français
Starlight has spent more than five decades preserving his language and culture This news release is also available to read in Tsúut'ínà. TSÚUT'ÍNÀ NATION, AB, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ - A gathering was held in Tsúut'ínà Nation near Calgary, Alberta, today as Canada Post celebrated an upcoming stamp featuring Bruce Starlight. Known as Dit'óní Didlishí (Spotted Eagle), Starlight is an Elder and Knowledge Keeper who has spent more than five decades advocating to save his language and culture from extinction. This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that will be issued tomorrow, June 20 – the day before National Indigenous Peoples Day. The set is the fourth in Canada Post's multi-year Indigenous Leaders series. Starlight's life and legacy Born in 1947 on the Tsúut'ínà Nation, Starlight is the son of the late Chief James "Jim" Starlight, who served as chief of the First Nations community for more than a decade during the 1950s and early 60s. Although he had to leave high school to help support his family after his father died, Starlight went on to study linguistics at the University of Calgary later in life. Frustrated by a lack of support for the teaching of Tsúut'ínà, he began to document its alphabet, words and phrases. In the 1970s, Starlight served as a councillor on the Tsúut'ínà Chief and Council and assisted Elder George Heavenfire in teaching participants about Tsúut'ínà history during the Sarcee Cultural Survival Camp. In 1992, he became the first elected Indigenous director on the Calgary Stampede Board of Directors, after serving as the first chairman of the First Nations Events Committee. One of the last fluent speakers of the Tsúut'ínà language, in 2008 Starlight was among the founders of the Tsúut'ínà Gunáhà Násʔághà – an institute dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of his mother tongue. An accomplished teacher and speaker, he has developed extensive materials for Tsúut'ínà instruction, including dictionaries and recordings. Although he retired as language commissioner for the Tsúut'ínà Nation in 2022, Starlight continues to serve as a speaker and advisor on Indigenous issues. He recently collaborated on a collection of traditional narratives and historical accounts in Tsúut'ínà and a Tsúut'ínà-to-English glossary. In 2023, Starlight received an honorary doctorate from Mount Royal University. About the stamp The stamp features a photograph of Starlight wearing a headdress that identifies him as an elected official. He bears a medallion presented to the leaders of Treaty First Nations commemorating the 125 th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 7; it was presented to him by the president of the Navajo Nation. Starlight also wears a Hudson's Bay blanket coat. A trade item between the Indigenous Peoples and the settlers, the Hudson's Bay blanket can symbolize entering and leaving the world wrapped in a blanket. The stamp is designed by Andrew Perro, featuring photography by Richard Anseeuw and background imagery from iStock. It is printed by Lowe-Martin. The issue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ stamps, an Official First Day Cover and a souvenir sheet. The cancellation site is Calgary (near Starlight's birthplace) and the cancellation mark bears an image of an eagle. About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series The Indigenous Leaders series was launched in 2022 and highlights the contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders who dedicated their lives to preserving their culture and improving the quality of life of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This year, Canada Post will issue three stamps in honour of Julia Haogak Ogina, Sophie McDougall and Bruce Starlight. There were two other stamp events this month: On Friday, June 13, the stamp honouring Julia Haogak Ogina was celebrated in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories. On Tuesday, June 17, the stamp commemorating Sophie McDougall was celebrated in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The new stamps and collectibles will be available at and select postal outlets across Canada starting June 20. For links to images of the stamps and other products: TM Trademark of Canada Post Corporation.
