Canada Post has created a stamp honouring Anishinaabe Elder and world-renowned water-rights activist, Josephine Mandamin.
On a rainy day in April 2003, Nokomis (grandmother) Josephine Mandamin and the Mother Earth Water Walkers set out on their first walk for water. Nokomis was inspired to act by the prophecy Midewiwin Grand Chief Eddie Benton-Banai shared, warning that water would become scarce and expensive if we didn't reverse our carelessness.
Nokomis walked for all life on earth…trees, birds, plants, insects, animals, your family, and all of your grandchildren's grandchildren yet to come. We are so happy to see Josephine-ba honoured in this way. Find her story in Joanne Robertson's books The Water Walker, and the dual language (Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and English) edition: Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker.
You can learn more about her walks at www.motherearthwaterwalk.com
Josephine-ba was from Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island and resided in Thunder Bay, Ontario in Canada.
[image description of stamp: this stamp features a photo of Nokomis. Along the bottom of the stamp is a stylized illustration of water.
The cancellation mark is a stylized image of the ripples emanating from a droplet of water. The dynamic rings reference Nokomis’s work to protect water, rippling outward from the centre in the same way that her legacy continues to inspire.]
The Water Walker on a Postage Stamp!
Posted by Second Story Press on
