A Siksika Blackfoot Nation artist recently designed one of three new Canada Post stamps commemorating the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Three Indigenous artists were chosen across the country with two-spirited artist Adrian Stimson chosen from Alberta.
The other two artists are Robert Burke and Helen Iguptak.
Stimson spent time in three residential schools including the Gordon's Residential School in Saskatchewan.
The project was put together with Canada Post and the Survivors Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to highlight the history and legacy of residential schools.
According to the media release:
Stimson’s stamp artwork conveys themes of abuse, resilience and the power of reclaiming his culture. It includes an image of a feather, what he says is for all residential school Survivors “who didn’t have a voice, who died and lived without telling their stories. It’s those ancestors who I feel I have a responsibility to, to help bring their stories to light.” It also includes a picture of himself as a child, representing the start of abuse at residential schools.
Bison are another common symbol in his works. Partly representing resilience for the Blackfoot people, he says their story of survival is analogous to the story of Indigenous Peoples. His stamp image includes seven Bison, a reference to the seven generations it takes to slowly move through the process of healing and reconciliation.
All three artists are also survivors of the Residential School system in Canada. This is the third time stamps have been issued in the Truth and Reconciliation stamp series.
Residential schools forcibly separated Indigenous children from their families and removed them from their land, their language, culture and spiritual traditions.
The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour support to former residential school students and their families. If you require support, please call 1-866-925-4419.