CANADA, 1977, Christmas, Scott 741-43

John de Brébeuf was one of eight Jesuit North American martyrs cruelly killed between 1642 and 1649 at the hands of the Mohawk. He died 16 March 1649 at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, near Midland, Ontario. Brébeuf wrote a catechism in Huron and a French-Huron dictionary for use by other missionaries, and he composed in Huron Canada's first Christmas carol, Jesous Ahatonhia or The Huron Carol. Ronald G. White, an illustrator of children's books has used Native American motifs in the stamps above to illustrate the carol: (10¢) three hunter braves see an angel in the northern lights, (12¢) they follow the star to the lodge where the infant is to be found, and (25¢) they worship at the crib. Brébeuf is also known for naming a Native American game lacrosse, as it is called today, because the stick used in the game reminded him of a bishop's crozier. He was canonized in 1930, and his feast is celebrated on October 19. More

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