The Official First Day Cover features a stamp honouring Elder and Knowledge Keeper Bruce Starlight (known as Dit'óní Didlishí ), who has dedicated his life to the preservation and revitalization of his mother tongue, Tsúut'ínà.

The stamp is one of three in the 2025 Indigenous Leaders issue, the fourth set of stamps in the Indigenous Leaders series. It is cancelled in Calgary, Alberta, near Starlight’s birthplace, the Tsúut'ínà Nation.

Good to know

The Indigenous Leaders series recognizes the outstanding achievements and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders. The 2025 issue pays tribute to three remarkable knowledge/language keepers:

• Sophie McDougall – Métis

• Haogak Ogina – Inuit

• Bruce Starlight – First Nations

About the Indigenous Leaders series

The Indigenous Leaders series, launched in 2022, highlights the contributions of modern-day First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders who dedicated their lives to preserving their culture and improving the quality of life of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

About Bruce Starlight

Known as Dit'óní Didlishí (Spotted Eagle), Bruce Starlight is one of the last fluent speakers of the Tsúut'ínà language. Born in 1947 on the Tsúut'ínà Nation near Calgary, Alberta, the Elder and Knowledge Keeper has worked hard for more than five decades to save his language and culture from extinction.

Although he had to leave high school to help support his family after his father died, Starlight went on to study linguistics at the University of Calgary later in life. Frustrated by a lack of support for the teaching of Tsúut'ínà, he began to document its alphabet, words and phrases. Starlight founded the Tsúut'ínà Gunáhà Násʔághà – an institute dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of his mother tongue – and served as language commissioner for the Tsúut'ínà Nation.

Known as Dit'óní Didlishí (Spotted Eagle), Bruce Starlight is one of the last fluent speakers of the Tsúut'ínà language. Born in 1947 on the Tsúut'ínà Nation near Calgary, Alberta, the Elder and Knowledge Keeper has worked hard for more than five decades to save his language and culture from extinction.

Although he had to leave high school to help support his family after his father died, Starlight went on to study linguistics at the University of Calgary later in life. Frustrated by a lack of support for the teaching of Tsúut'ínà, he began to document its alphabet, words and phrases. Starlight founded the Tsúut'ínà Gunáhà Násʔághà – an institute dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of his mother tongue – and served as language commissioner for the Tsúut'ínà Nation.

Also an accomplished teacher and speaker, he has developed extensive materials for Tsúut'ínà instruction, including dictionaries and recordings. Starlight recently collaborated on a collection of traditional narratives and historical accounts in Tsúut'ínà and a Tsúut'ínà-to-English glossary. He is still active as a cultural mentor, adviser and ambassador. In 2023, he received an honorary doctorate from Mount Royal University.

About the design

The front of the OFDC features a scenic photograph of a soaring eagle, the words “Bruce Starlight,” his stamp, and the cancel mark.

The stamp was cancelled on June 20, in connection with National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21).

The cancel features an illustration of an eagle. Starlight is known as Dit'óní Didlishí, which means Spotted Eagle in the Tsúut'ínà language.

The back features a short text on Starlight, a bar code and credits.

Product # 414297131

Indigenous Leaders – Bruce Starlight: Official First Day Cover (2025)