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On 21 October 2010, the United Nations Postal Administration issued 18 commemorative stamps in a mini-sheet format of six stamps each on the theme “Indigenous People”. This is the second set of stamps on this theme.
THE DESIGNS
44-cent mini-sheet
Top row (from left to right):
Parabolic Earrings Thailand, 2005
Princess of Rurutu French Polynesia, 2000
Baby Powder Flower Power Papua New Guinea, 2007
Bottom row (from left to right):
Big Blue French Polynesia, 2000
Crocodile Kid on Ski Beach Australia, 2003
Uncle Max at the Smoke Ceremony Australia, 2003
F.s. 1,30 mini-sheet
Top row (from left to right):
Joan of Arc Australia, 2003
Haji Brunei, 2006
Onion Girl United Republic of Tanzania, 2001
Bottom row (from left to right):
Red Devil French Polynesia, 2000
Goat Lady United Republic of Tanzania, 2003
Wilson French Polynesia, 2000
€ 0,65 mini-sheet
Top row (from left to right):
Kahoa! French Polynesia, 2000
Is It a Boy or Girl United Republic of Tanzania, 2001
Bario Bowlcut Malaysia, 2006
Bottom row (from left to right):
Red Ball Fruit French Polynesia, 2000
Coca-Cola Kid Namibia, 2002
Red Soil United Republic of Tanzania, 2001
FIRST DAY COVERS
Because of the mini-sheet format, first day covers WERE MADE available only as a full sheet affixed to a jumbo envelope and cancelled New York, Geneva or Vienna, as appropriate.
FIRST DAY CANCELLATIONS
On 21 October 2010, first day hand-cancellations for the “Indigenous People” stamps were made available at United Nations Headquarters in New York; the Palais des Nations, Geneva; and the Vienna International Centre.
ABOUT THE ISSUE
On 21 October 2010, the United Nations Postal Administration issued 18 commemorative stamps in a mini-sheet format of six stamps each on the theme “Indigenous People”. This is the second set of stamps on this theme.
Indigenous people are the inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to other people and to the environment. Indigenous people have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, the various groups of indigenous people around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.
Estimates point to more than 370 million indigenous people in some 90 countries worldwide. While they are from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds, they share challenges such as lack of basic health care, limited access to education, loss of control over land, discrimination, forced assimilation, abject poverty, displacement, human rights violations, and economic and social marginalization.
Indigenous people around the world have sought recognition of their identities, their ways of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources; yet throughout history, their rights have been violated. Indigenous peoples are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world today. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect the rights of the world’s indigenous peoples.
The landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, drafted and debated for more than 20 years, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007. The Declaration is the most comprehensive statement of the rights of indigenous peoples ever developed, giving prominence to collective rights to a degree unprecedented in international human rights law. It emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to live in dignity, to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their self-determined development, in keeping with their needs and aspirations. The adoption of this Declaration is the clearest indication yet that the international community is committing itself to the protection of the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples.
Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon called upon Member States to promote development while respecting the values and traditions of indigenous peoples at the opening of the annual forum, held in New York in April of this year.
“The loss of irreplaceable cultural practices and means of artistic expression makes us all poorer, wherever our roots may lie,” Secretary-General Ban told the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York. This year’s theme at the forum was “Development with Culture and Identity”.
STAMP SPECIFICATIONS
The stamps, in denominations of 44 cents, F.s. 1,30 and € 0,65, measure 30 mm horizontally by 40 mm vertically, perforation to perforation. Perforation size: 13.
The vertical mini-sheets of six stamps have one marginal inscription in the centre of the bottom margin. The marginal inscription consists of the United Nations emblem with the text “United” above the emblem and the text “Nations” below the emblem. One copyright symbol with the year 2010 appears in the lower left margin. The artist’s signature appears in the lower right margin.
PRINTING
The stamps were printed in offset by Lowe-Martin Group (Canada).
SHEET SIZE AND FORMAT
The sheet size measures 110 mm horizontally by 140 mm vertically.
SELLING UNITS
The full sheet of six different stamps will be considered as a single unit and is the only selling unit for this issue.
THE ARTIST
In 2003, Mr. Bennett founded Faces of the World, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to expanding global awareness of people through art education and cultural exchange. He works internationally teaching portrait workshops and creating exhibits that help children and adults alike take pride in their culture through portraiture. Faces of the World is funded from the sale of Mr. Bennett’s paintings, donations and sponsorship. For more information, visit www.facesoftheworld.net.
Mr. Bennett states, “I am a portrait painter because of my passion for the wonderful diversity of the world’s people. My portraits convey a fusion of my feelings for each subject with an intuitive use of colour. I intensify them in celebration of that person’s existence. I hope my portraits reveal that every person of every race and culture is interconnected, indispensable and radiant with astonishing beauty.” Mr. Bennett extends an invitation to all to suggest new ways in which his work can be used as a forum for cultural awareness.
This is Mr. Bennett’s second series of stamps for the United Nations that feature his World Portraits. His first set of Indigenous People stamps was issued in October 2009.
This set of Indigenous People stamps features World Portraits by Stephen Bennett (U.S.A.). Mr. Bennett is a dedicated portrait painter living in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. He makes annual trips around the world to paint portraits of indigenous people. Young, old, joyful and withered faces populate these vibrant canvases, celebrating a variety of ethnic strains in a tapestry painted with detailed brushwork. His objective is to share his experiences of the diversity of human life. His work has been used to promote and preserve cultures in the United States of America, Mexico, Saint Martin, Panama, French Polynesia, the Seychelles, the United Republic of Tanzania, Namibia, Borneo, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
Mr. Bennett has a keen sense of observation, and the ability to bring out the beauty of a face. He succeeds in his artistic endeavours thanks to his appreciation of human differences, his generosity and his desire to understand others. He has a special ability to express and bring light to a face by his play with colours that he has hand-mixed from pure pigments. For him, a face is a treasure.
His vision is education through art on a global scale. He is driven by a desire to complete an international exhibition of 1,000 portraits from the world over, painted by his own hand. This enormous project is ambitious, but needed at a time when the world is particularly conflicted. The common thread throughout his work is for the observer to realize our common humanity … for when we stare into these mesmerizing eyes is when we realize we are all one people of one world. All too often indigenous peoples are pushed to the fringes of modern society. The power of these vibrant portraits and their public exhibition helps return the beauty and relevancy of indigenous people to a genuine level of social and cultural importance, much to the benefit
