Canada Post has unveiled its annual stamp series honoring Indigenous leadership and excellence in sports, featuring three prominent figures: Chief Wilton Littlechild, Bryan Trottier, and Edward Lennie. The stamps were revealed at a ceremony held at the Calgary Public Library on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Emotional Tribute to Indigenous Athletes
Chief Wilton Littlechild, a Cree chief and lawyer, shared his emotional reaction upon learning about the stamp. "My first thought was the years of separation from my grandparents," he said. A residential school survivor, Littlechild recalled how stamps helped him stay connected with his grandparents during his childhood. "In that stamped envelope was the love that I needed to carry on. There's a special connection there to fill a missing space."
Julie Philippe, Canada Post vice-president of people and safety, explained the significance of the stamps. "These men have broken records and set standards for sportsmanship; their achievements have supported athletic participation and cultural pride across Indigenous communities. That's why Canada Post has created a stamp commemorating each of them."
Chief Wilton Littlechild: A Life in Sports
Littlechild credited sports with helping him survive residential school. "Schooling was where I found sports first. It was hockey and baseball, and then swimming, judo and football found me. There were many times I ran to sports to run away from the abuse, to exercise and pray or just to cry."
As an adult, Littlechild won 70 championships in various sports and earned degrees in physical education. He became the first Alberta Treaty First Nation person to earn a law degree. He has been inducted into several sports halls of fame and played a key role in establishing the National Indian Athletic Association, the North American Indigenous Games, and the World Indigenous Nations Games.
Bryan Trottier: Hockey Legend
Bryan Trottier, speaking via video message, recalled his childhood dreams of playing in the NHL. "Maybe one shift, maybe score a goal. The wildest dream was winning a Stanley Cup and raising it over my head like my boyhood idols."
Trottier started competitive hockey at age eight and went on to win the Stanley Cup six times as a player and once as an assistant coach. He earned five major NHL honors, including league MVP and playoff MVP, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and Canada Sports Hall of Fame. Off the rink, he co-founded the Aboriginal Alumni Hockey team, offering hockey clinics and mentorship across Canada.
"Here I am, a proud Canadian, a proud Métis Canadian, Saskatchewan-born with First Nations grandparents, Cree Métis Chippewa, an Irish mother and parents who encouraged us in sport, in music, in school to pursue something with our whole heart, and hopefully inspire the next generation student athlete to pursue their dreams with their whole heart," Trottier said.
Edward Lennie: Honored Posthumously
Edward Lennie, a respected Indigenous athlete and leader, was also honored with a stamp. His son, Hans Lennie, attended the ceremony and accepted the tribute on his father's behalf. The stamp commemorates Lennie's contributions to sports and his community.
The three-stamp issue is part of Canada Post's ongoing commitment to recognizing Indigenous leaders and their impact on Canadian society. The stamps are now available for purchase at postal outlets across the country.
