Red Deer Polytechnic has announced the winning design in its annual Orange Shirt Day contest.
During a staff gathering, Indigenous Initiatives presented RDP visual arts alumna (2014) Alexandria King with a gift basket and a printed shirt featuring her design.
The T-shirts will launch the first week of September and be sold at The Lift, thanks to the Students’ Association. Proceeds will go toward Indigenous student funds and initiatives.
King thanked the committee, the president’s office and sponsors for the opportunity to take part in the important initiative.
Although she doesn’t speak from an Indigenous perspective, King said she was inspired by Indigenous values and cultural teachings, drawing influence from Northern Ontario Ojibway artist Norval Morrisseau.
“The design centres on the image of an adult bear holding a cub in a protective embrace,” said King. “The bear can be viewed as more than the ‘mother bear’ figure but rather symbolizes the collective responsibility we all share — women, men and communities — to protect and care for the most vulnerable. The two are embraced in a caring and protective heart-shaped formation. Below them, a growing plant emerges from the earth, our intertwined relationship.”
King also explained how she learned eagles and eagle feathers are sacred, often associated with the Creator and spirit realm, and connected with values such as truth, courage, wisdom and resilience.
“With the drawing of an eagle feather and flying eagles above, I hoped to symbolically honour and represent these values, which are central to the message of Every Child Matters,” she said.
** With information and images from Red Deer Polytechnic Facebook.
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