Bruce Starlight, a distinguished Elder and Knowledge Keeper from Tsúut’ínà Nation, is being honored with a new stamp from Canada Post, to be released on June 20, the day before National Indigenous Peoples Day. The stamp is part of the Indigenous Leaders series, which highlights the contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit leaders who have worked tirelessly to preserve their cultures and improve the quality of life for Indigenous communities. Starlight’s life work has focused on saving the Tsúut’ínà language from extinction, and he has spent over five decades documenting and teaching the language.
Born in 1947, Starlight is the son of the late Chief James Starlight, and after studying linguistics at the University of Calgary, he became a key figure in preserving Tsúut’ínà culture. In 2008, he co-founded the Tsúut’ínà Gunáhà Násʔághà institute, dedicated to revitalizing the language. A fluent speaker, Starlight has also developed extensive teaching materials, including dictionaries and audio recordings.
The stamp’s design features a photograph of Starlight in traditional regalia, including a Hudson’s Bay blanket coat and a medallion presented to him by the Navajo Nation. The stamp will be available at Canada Post outlets and online starting June 20.
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