Belcourt's paintings capture her heritage and
environmental advocacy
This news release is also
available to read in Michif Cree.
OTTAWA,
ON, June 25, 2024 /CNW/ - At an event today in
Ottawa, Canada Post celebrated a
new stamp recognizing Métis visual artist and environmentalist,
Christi Belcourt.
Known for her intricate paintings that emulate Métis floral
beadwork, Belcourt uses her talent to celebrate nature, honour her
ancestors, advocate for the protection of land and water, and
support Indigenous knowledge, culture and language.
This stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps that were
released on June 21. The set is the third in Canada Post's multi-year Indigenous Leaders
series.
Belcourt's life and
legacy
Born in Scarborough, Ontario in
1966, and raised in Ottawa,
Belcourt is a descendant of the Métis community of Manitow
Sâkahikan (Lac Ste. Anne) in Alberta. She works in a variety of media but
is best known for her large floral paintings, which draw
inspiration from traditional Métis floral beadwork and pay homage
to her Métis heritage and the natural world.
Belcourt's work has been featured in exhibitions across
North America and is found in the
permanent collections of major Canadian galleries, including the
National Gallery of Canada, the
Art Gallery of Ontario and the
Gabriel Dumont Institute. In honour of residential school Survivors
and their descendants, Belcourt designed a stained-glass window
called Giniigaaniimenaaning (Looking Ahead), which
was installed at the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings
in Ottawa.
The power of Belcourt's art lies in both its beauty and message.
Among her most poignant works is Walking With Our Sisters, a
memorial installation of more than 2,000 pairs of beaded
moccasin tops honouring the lives of missing or murdered Indigenous
women, Two-Spirit people and children. As co-founder of the
community-based Onaman Collective, she volunteers her time to
create resources and space for land-based Indigenous practices,
including language revitalization.
Belcourt's many awards include a Jim
Brady Memorial Medal of Excellence (2023), an Artist Award
from the Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts (Ontario, 2016), a Governor General's
Innovation Award (2016), the 2014 Ontario Arts Council Aboriginal
Arts Award and an Aboriginal Leadership Award, a category of the
Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards (2014). She also
received two honorary doctorate degrees from Algoma University and Wilfrid
Laurier University, both in 2023.
About the stamp
Cancelled in Ottawa (where
Belcourt was raised), this stamp features an illustration of
Belcourt that was created by her. The background shows detail from
her painting, Reverence for Life.
The cancellation image is a line drawing inspired by Belcourt's
painting style.
About the Indigenous Leaders stamp
series
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders series
celebrates 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 issued three stamps on National
Indigenous Peoples Day in honour of Indigenous leaders Elisapie,
Josephine Mandamin and Christi Belcourt. Two other stamp events were
held this month:
- On Thursday, June 13, the stamp
honouring Elisapie was unveiled at an event in Montréal.
- On Tuesday, June 18, the stamp
commemorating Josephine Mandamin was
unveiled at an event in Thunder Bay,
Ontario.
The new stamps and collectibles are available at
canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.
For links to images of the stamps and other products:
- External folder with high-resolution images (access).
- YouTube video (watch video).
- Canada Post magazine article (read magazine).
- Social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
SOURCE Canada Post