Roughriders say new logo designed by Saskatoon artist commissioned as act of truth and reconciliation

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a new logo with several cultural stories embedded in the design. The club says it was commissioned as an act of truth and reconciliation.

According to Saskatoon-based visual artist and illustrator Chris Chipak, who is from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, the new logo features imagery inspired by the Treaty 4 flag, as well as meaningful cultural symbols.

"I put a Buffalo on the the right side and then on the other side I put a landscape that kind of acknowledges the living sky that our province is known for. And then the treaty promise of the sun and grass and water flowing," said Chipak.

The artist also felt it was important to incorporate feathers into the design. 

"They're just such a symbol in terms of First Nations culture and respect," Chipack said. 

"I've known people who've gone their whole life as amazing leaders. And at the very end when they retire, they get that one eagle feather. So to put two on either side to pay significance to that [as well as] two-spirit people was a a key factor."

The fresh logo will adorn the helmets of the Riders when they host Ottawa for their special kisiskâciwan game Saturday afternoon. Kisiskâciwan is the Cree word the name Saskatchewan was derived from. 

All CFL clubs have special Indigenous-designed logos for Week 17 of the season to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. 

According to a press release from the Roughriders club Monday, the sun on the logo emphasizes the Treaty promise and "signifies the interconnectedness of all things to represent the collective effort that is essential to reconciliation."

Listen: CBC's The 306:

The 3066:22The Saskatchewan Roughriders have introduced a new Indigenous logo

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a new logo. Not the obsidian green used earlier this year, it's a stunning work of art with several stories embedded in the design. The artist who designed the logo, Chris Chipak of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, came on CBC to explain who the project came to be, and the meaning behind the imagery.

The ribbon-like skyline pays tribute to the province's identity as "the land of the living skies" and traditional ribbon skirts. Chipack's design also features the kisiskâciwan eight circles that symbolize the number of berries native to Saskatchewan. 

"Each element of the logo is steeped with deep meaning, and we hope Rider Nation will not only wear it with the same pride as our football team but take a moment to reflect on truth and reconciliation and our connection to each other," said Roughriders President and CEO Craig Reynolds in Monday's press release. 

Chipak said he hopes the logo will help people heal from the past, make them feel present and give them hope for a better future. He uses the word "beginning" to describe the logo. 

"You've got to start somewhere. That's the thing with reconciliation — it takes a lot of groups to heal together and it's not going to happen overnight."

The new Indigenous design will be available in the Rider Store later this week.