Metis leader Harry Daniels recognized on Canada Post stamp

Canada Post is releasing a commemorative Indigenous Leaders stamp recognizing Metis leader Harry Daniels.

On Monday, Daniels’ friends and family gathered to share stories and celebrate the accomplishments of the former Regina Beach resident. The design of the stamp was later revealed, showing a portrait of Daniels with a traditional Metis sash behind him.

(Canada Post/Submitted)

The stamp is being released on June 21 to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. Daniels’ stamp is part of a series called the Indigenous Leaders stamp series that also will celebrate Jose Kusugak and Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier.

Daniels died in 2004 but his accomplishments are still celebrated today.

Daniels was an advocate for Metis and non-status Indians, successfully arguing that the federal government should consider them as Indigenous Peoples in the Constitution Act 1982.

The case was not decided until 2016. Under Daniels v. Canada, the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Federal Court that Metis and non-status Indian people are considered Indigenous Peoples under the British North America Act, 1867.

Canada Post regional general manager Ben McCutcheon said Daniels was a prime candidate for the stamp.

“It’s important that we recognize these Indigenous leaders that really make up the fabric of Canada,” McCutcheon said. “I look at a postage stamp as more than just a stamp. It immortalizes those leaders and tells a story. It’s more than just a picture.”

While individual Indigenous leaders have been on Canada Post stamps before, this is the first time they’ll be part of a series.

“It takes years,” said McCutcheon. “There’s a committee that gets recommendations from different groups that suggest that a stamp should commemorate an event or person. In this particular case for Harry Daniels, we met with Indigenous leaders and of course his wife, Mrs. (Cheryl) Storkson, and got the stories that make up the image of Harry Daniels.”

Daniels represented Metis people provincially, nationally and internationally after he was elected as the vice-president of the Metis Association of Alberta in 1972. In 1974, he was elected as secretary treasurer of the Native Council of Canada, and would later serve as president and chief executive officer.

Storkson was thrilled with the honour.

“What an honourable man that he was, and how he fought so hard and how dedicated he was to his work, bringing all of this for the Metis, Indian and Inuit for everybody,” she said. “He would be so honoured.

“It was such a beautiful and fantastic feeling, and something I have never expected. He expected it, I am sure. But (I’m) just completely happy seeing everyone since (Daniels’) funeral.”

Daniels was described as an outspoken individual with quick sense of humour. Fond memories were shared by friends throughout Monday’s event. Many audience members laughed and cried remembering Daniels. The unveiling of the stamp moved many audience members.

“What can you say? It’s just the biggest honour in the world,” said Storkson.

On top of his political career, Daniels was also a writer and an actor.

“We were on a merry-go-round all the time,” said Storkson. “We never knew what was coming next. It was like a joyride and just fun.”

The emotional response did not go unnoticed by McCutcheon.

“For me, we have a lot of other events to share and commemorate different people on postage stamps,” McCutcheon said. “This one, I have attended a few of these and you could feel the emotion in the room.

“Maybe after a couple of years of COVID, having hearts and minds to celebrate Harry Daniels seemed to strike a bit of a chord with me.”