Atikamekw roots inspire Indigenous Celebration Night jersey design

MONTREAL -- The Canadiens will be wearing special warmup jerseys in conjunction with Indigenous Celebration Night at the Bell Centre on Saturday.

AUCTION: Indigenous Celebration Night warmup jerseys
The project was a true labor of love for Montreal-based multidisciplinary artist Meky Ottawa, who hails from the Atikamekw community of Manawan in the Lanaudière region of Quebec.
Ottawa's socially conscious artwork is typically inspired by her Atikamekw background, her feminist perspective and her urban life experiences.
"The inspiration for the designs and imagery on the Canadiens jersey was my nation, the Atikamekw," said Ottawa. "We love the land and we want to protect the land. There's a love for nature. I wanted the symbols to represent my nation and how we are trying to do our best to keep our culture alive and our language alive."

Here's a brief explanation of the images featured within the jersey crest:
Although the symbols are especially important for the Atikamekw and the community of Manawan, where Ottawa was born and raised, their meaning can resonate with many other Indigenous cultures.
Three fish:Represent the three Atikamekw nations, specifically the communities of Wemotaci, Manawan and Opitciwan. In their native language, "Atikamekw" literally means "white fish."
Medicinal plants ("maskominanatikw" in Atikamekw):Represent how the Atikamekw people have preserved the ancient knowledge of feeding and healing from nature without altering it significantly.
Lightning bolts:Symbolize protection and placed in the upper portion of the logo to protect the Canadiens.
Tapiskwan sipi (which translates to "Saint-Maurice River") mountains:An important element for the Atikamekw nation and said to look like buffaloes.

Here's a brief explanation of the images featured on the shoulder patches of the jerseys:
Three bears:The Atikamekw are part of the Bear Clan. Often identified by animal names, clans have historically been employed by many Algonquian-speaking groups in North America to determine individual roles in traditional occupations, intertribal relationships and marriages. Each totem animal represents a central branch of knowledge and responsibility essential to society. Members of the Bear Clan are traditionally the warriors and medicine gatherers, in charge of protection and healing. The bear is also a symbol of courage and respect for First Nations.
Sacred fire ("kitci ickote" in Atikamekw):A ceremony during which a spiritual door is opened and we are reunited with our ancestors. It is an opportunity to give thanks, offerings and prayers, and to listen to teachings. The fire is typically used to help heal, unify or bring people together.
When Ottawa was initially contacted by the team about undertaking the project, prominently featuring the color red was also a top priority.
Red is synonymous with Indigenous people, spirituality and birth.
"I had a vision right away about using different tones of red. Red or "Mikwacin" is a very powerful word in the Atikamekw language. It's the color of blood. It has a very deep meaning. When you ask someone - "Ki mikwin a?" - you are asking them, "Do you remember? Is it in your blood?" explained Ottawa. "It was important for me to use the color because it means so much. It's about having something in your DNA."
Ottawa's monochrome design was also inspired by the rather unique artisanal technique of the Atikamekw to use birchbark to fabricate various objects such as canoes and baskets.
This ancestral practice has earned the Atikamekw nation the nickname of "people of the bark." Several Indigenous art forms can be used to embellish these handicrafts, such as biting and scraping, which consists of scratching the surface of the bark in order to create geometric designs, to which floral or animal motifs are often added.

Ottawa is eagerly anticipating seeing her meaningful designs on display prior to the matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"It was an honor for me to do this. I was so happy the Canadiens asked me and they wanted to highlight my nation. It means a lot to collaborate with the team for a good cause and give back to my community," she concluded. "Indigenous Celebration Night is very special. It's important to highlight different cultures and different backgrounds. It shows the openness and willingness to showcase different communities and diversity."
These unique collectible items are already up for auction at
indigenous.bidandraise.com
, and the public will have until Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. to place their bids.
Also committed to fostering inclusion and community, Tim Hortons has chosen to join this initiative by matching the amount raised through this auction, up to a maximum of $15,000.