Honour and pay tribute to Thelma Chalifoux - Métis activist and former Canadian senator - with this Official First Day Cover.

About the issue

This stamp is part of the second issue in the Indigenous Leaders series, which pays tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions to Canadian society and brought about positive and lasting changes in Canada. By highlighting the achievements of these modern-day First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders, the series celebrates their dedication to preserving their culture and improving the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

The cancel location for this issue is Calgary, Alberta, Canada, which is Chalifoux’s birthplace.

About Thelma Chalifoux

Métis activist Thelma Chalifoux (1929-2917) was a committed advocate for social justice and women’s and Indigenous rights. Born in Calgary, Alberta, she worked as a volunteer and joined the military reserve force during the Second World War. Chalifoux finished her high school education and worked two jobs while fighting for her children, who had been taken by the child welfare system after she left her abusive husband. After regaining custody in 1965, she went back to school to study sociology and construction estimating.

Chalifoux played a significant role in the Métis Association of Alberta, establishing welfare and land departments and advocating for affordable food, shelter, and financial support for Métis families. She co-founded the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre and established the community's first safe house for women fleeing from domestic violence.

Chalifoux served as a land claims negotiator and participated in constitutional talks that helped get the First Nations, Métis and Inuit recognized as separate nations. She was the first Métis woman to broadcast on private radio and served on many organizations, including the Métis Women's Council, the Métis Nation of Alberta, and the Aboriginal Women’s Business Development Corporation.

In 1997, Chalifoux became the first Indigenous woman appointed to the Senate of Canada. During her term, she chaired the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples and was a member of many other committees. After retiring, she served as an Elder at the Nechi Institute: Centre of Indigenous Learning and was Métis Elder in Residence at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Chalifoux's legacy lives on through Michif Cultural Connections, a Métis museum and resource centre she helped found in St. Alberta, Alberta.

About the design

The Official First Day Cover features the Thelma Chalifoux stamp and a cancel mark that is an illustration of a flower from the stamp design. The background of the cover is part of the same floral pattern that appears on the stamp, with the tones and colours altered.

Product # 414227131

Indigenous Leaders - Thelma Chalifoux: Official First Day Cover