Renowned singer-songwriter, actor, director, producer, and activist Elisapie is being celebrated with a new stamp by Canada Post.
Elisapie, who crafts and performs her work in Inuktitut, English, and French, has dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Inuit language, traditions, and culture through her diverse artistic endeavors. Her stamp is one of three Indigenous Leaders stamps set for release on June 21, as part of Canada Post’s Indigenous Leaders series.
Elisapie at the unveiling stamp ceremony on June 13. (Photo provided by Canada Post)
Born Elisapie Isaac in 1977 in the remote community of Salluit in Nunavik (northern Quebec), Elisapie began her journey by singing in church and performing on stage with her uncle’s band. After moving to Montréal to study communications, she wrote and directed the award-winning documentary short Sila piqujippat (If the Weather Permits, 2003), and won a JUNO Award as part of the musical duo Taima.
Elisapie’s deep connection to her Inuit homeland and culture is evident in her body of work, including four solo albums: There Will Be Stars (2009), Travelling Love (2012), The Ballad of the Runaway Girl (2018), and Inuktitut (2023). The latter earned her a second JUNO Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. In 2021, she created and produced Le grand solstice for Radio-Canada, a musical and cultural celebration televised annually to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Though she now resides in Montréal, Elisapie frequently returns to Salluit to reconnect with friends and family. Her numerous accolades include the Ambassador Prize at the 2011 Teweikan Awards for her work as an artist and activist, the Félix Award for Indigenous Artist of the Year (2020), being named Compagne des arts et des lettres du Québec (2021), and receiving an honorary doctorate from Concordia University (2023).
About the Stamp
Cancelled in Salluit, Quebec, Elisapie’s birthplace, this stamp features a studio portrait of Elisapie against a backdrop of the Nunavik region of northern Quebec, where she was born and raised. The cancellation mark includes an image of a tattoo on Elisapie’s hand.
Launched in 2022, the multi-year Indigenous Leaders series celebrates First Nations, Métis, and Inuit leaders dedicated to preserving their culture and enhancing the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
This year, Canada Post will issue three stamps on National Indigenous Peoples Day to honour Indigenous leaders Elisapie, Josephine Mandamin, and Christi Belcourt. Additional stamp events include:
- June 18: Unveiling of the Josephine Mandamin stamp in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
- June 25: Celebration of the Christi Belcourt stamp in Ottawa.