Edward Lennie’s son says it’s “such an honour” that his dad has been recognized on a Canada Post stamp.
“This all trickled down from when he got inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame for reintroducing the Northern Games,” said Hans Lennie.
Edward, a respected Elder from the Beaufort Delta who was known as the “father of Northern Games,” was inducted into the hall of fame in 2022.
Hans remembers his dad getting annoyed when the first Arctic Winter Games in 1970 did not include sports from the Arctic.
Edward created the Northern Games committee, Hans said, and successfully argued for the inclusion of northern games. He then coached events like the kneel jump and two-foot high kick at the inaugural Arctic Winter Games.
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“He put a lot of effort to get the games recognized,” said Hans of Edward’s goal to have northern games played at the national level and at the Olympics – something that was achieved in 2010 when Arctic sports were showcased in cultural demonstrations at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Edward was announced as one of three Indigenous athletes and advocates that would be recognized on a Canada Post stamp on National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Edward passed away in 2020. Hans attended the unveiling ceremony for the stamps on June 17 in his place.
Canada Post also unveiled stamps for hockey star Bryan Trottier and founder of the North American Indigenous Games Chief Wilton Littlechild.
Hans said the day he flew home to Inuvik after the ceremony, his daughter was headed to Yellowknife to officiate and help with the Indigenous Summer Games.
“It just warms the heart, and to have my own daughter also helping, officiating and promoting the games – [Edward’s] legacy is continuing,” said Hans.
