the Indigenous Merchandise line
As part of the Canada Games’ commitment to honouring and celebrating the cultures and traditions of Indigenous peoples, we collaborated with Indigenous Artists on a custom Canada Games-inspired Indigenous Artists Merchandise Program. We aimed to feature designs inspired by the artists’ heritage, showcasing the history, culture and perspectives of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. These works offer an opportunity to engage with, and continue to learn from, these important voices.
This initiative was made possible through a generous donation by a private Family Foundation.
Vision Artworks is a supplier of unique and bold apparel, headwear, artwork, and design items. All pieces are created by artist Tracey Anthony on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and the Mississaugas of the Credit reserves in Ontario, Canada. Anthony’s Haudenosaunee, Mississauga (Anishinaabe), and Delaware (Lenni-Lenape) roots are heavy influences on the artwork and designs, but the pieces are for all Indigenous and Indigenous allies on Turtle Island and worldwide.
visionartworks.ca
@vision_artworks
About the Art - Creation Logo
The bottom criss cross motif is from Haudenosaunee pottery. Above that is the Skydome motif. Then wampum men with lacrosse sticks (since lacrosse has been included in the Canada Games in perpetuity I thought I would like to showcase its importance). There is also a beaded flower motif around the lacrosse sticks (Haudenosaunee shared the game). Then above them a star motif and the clay pottery motif again to show we come from Sky Woman (Creation story).
Emma Hassencahl-Perley is a Wolastoqey visual artist, arts writer, educator and curator from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in New Brunswick. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mount Allison University (17') and a Masters of Art in Art History from Concordia University ('22). Emma's visual art practice focuses on painting, beadwork, and digital illustration. Themes in her art explore water, the cosmos, Wabanaki feminisms, and the Wabanaki double-curve motif, symbolizing life cycles and relationships, including nationhood and community. These motifs serve as a cultural and aesthetic foundation in Emma's practice, connecting ancestral Wabanaki material culture with contemporary digital storytelling techniques.
emmahassencahlperley.ca
@emma_hassencahlperley
About the Art - The People of the Dawn
My graphic is an homage to the material culture of the Wabanakiyik -- the People of the Dawn. I took inspiration from traditional art objects such as beadwork, birch bark biting, and birch bark etching. The design in the centre is a Wabanaki double curve. My graphic is an homage to the material culture of the Wabanakiyik, translated to "the People of the Dawn." I drew inspiration from traditional art forms such as beadwork, birch bark biting, and etching. The central design features a Wabanaki double curve motif embellished with the stylized maple leaf from the Canada Games logo.
The double curve symbolizes a person's life journey, encompassing both the ups and downs and the connections they form throughout their life. Support networks are so important to an athlete's progression. With this graphic, I think about the people who come together to teach, train, and uplift youth in sports.
The tree designs on the sleeves reference Wabanakik (the territory) and the Wabanaki Creation Stories in which the powerful cultural hero Glooscap shoots an arrow through the ash tree, leading to the emergence of people from the split at the tree's center.
Blake Lepine is a traditional trained Visual Tlingit Artist, and a member of the Carcross Tagish First Nation from the heart of the southern lakes region of the Yukon. Having studied with artists from all over the west coast, as well as teachers of his home community, Blake hopes to bring together all of the ancient values and traditions of of this ancient art form while lending the modern voice to be expressed through it. Blake was born and raised in the Yukon and continues to reside here where he focuses his time on cultural revitalization with his family but also the youth of the Yukon. Blake is also a clinically trained medical herbalist, which also informs aspects of his work, hoping to spark inspiration to delve deeper into your own connection with the natural world.
facebook.com/blakelepineart
About the Art - How We See Our Growth
All the things we learn we carry with us, just as in nature, we adapt and learn to keep moving forward. This design is based on our old Seaweed designs that were meant to embellish our regalia with beadwork. I wanted to have these designs make its way into modern contemporary clothing as in the same manner in which we used it.
Aimee Movold is a Cree-Metis artist born and raised in treaty 6, with ancestral ties to Samson Cree nation and Onion Lake Cree nation. Art has always been a source of self-expression, and has helped me in some of the most difficult times in my life. I am in the process of learning and reclaiming my culture, and much of my inspiration comes from this and nature. I am also a mother and Acupuncturist, and much of my inspiration comes from this as well. My first love was drawing, and I have since come to also love and use a lot of acrylic painting.
@acupuncturewithaimee
About the Art - The Bison
For me the Bison is a symbol of abundance, resilience, and strength. The Bison’s resilience is an echo for Indigenous resilience.
Historically, the bison provided Indigenous peoples with sustenance and survival. When the Bison were forcibly removed, so was our culture, language and family systems. With the resurgence of Bison to their traditional lands, so is the restoration of Indigenous culture, language, and family systems.
Every time I see a herd of Bison, I feel immense pride. We are still here, in fact we are growing and thriving.
In a world that often emphasizes individualism, the Bison teaches us the importance of community. The more Canadians and Indigenous Peoples are able to cooperate and collaborate, the greater things we can achieve. Learning and applying Indigenous teachings is the way to preserve Mother Earth for many generations to come.
Jamin Zuroski is an Award Winning ‘Namgis First Nations Artist, residing in Victoria, BC. Jamin holds mixed ancestry from Ukrainian and Polish on his father’s side and ‘Na̱mg̱is, Da̱naxdax̱w, Ma’a̱mtagila, Mowachit, and E’iksen on his mother’s side. His heritage and desire for community connections is the heartbeat and fuel of his everyday actions. Jamin strives to constantly learn about his cultural heritage, Indigenous world views, social responsibility, leadership, community engagement, allyship, cultural integration, and social impact.
For over 25 years, Jamin has practiced and worked with a variety of artists, community members, organizations, businesses, schools, Friendship Centres and government on a variety of cultural projects and initiatives.
Learn more at jaminzuroski.com.
About the Art - Propel Forward (With Red)
This design highlights the forward movement of our athletes, coaches, support staff, family, friends, sponsors, and community. It showcases our eagerness to learn, practice, perform at our highest level, maintain balance, and strengthen community connections.
