TORONTO—The Expositor’s own Xoë Roy, of Sheguiandah First Nation, recently had the opportunity to design a t-shirt in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) in partnership with Ambe Maamowisdaa Employee Circle and the City of Toronto, specifically Toronto History Museums.
The orange shirt that has become the flagship of the TRC movement depicts a mother with flowing black hair adorned with a feather cradling and kissing the top of her baby’s head. The words ‘Every Child Matters,’ in different fonts, are found within the image. The shirt sells on the City of Toronto’s website for $30 with all proceeds donated to the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto through the city’s United Way campaign.
Ms. Roy told The Expositor she was approached about the project by Aaron Bowerman, a fellow Sheguiandah First Nation band member who now resides in Toronto and works for the City of Toronto as an Indigenous research associate. Mr. Bowerman also sits on the Indigenous Employee Network for the City of Toronto as its community engagement lead.
“As an employee network we decided we wanted to work with a young, Indigenous artist,” Mr. Bowerman told The Expositor. “I grew up with Xoë and watched her grow into the hardworking, talented, caring young adult she is today. Knowing Xoë was working hard to start her graphic design business, I wanted to bring her this opportunity to add to her portfolio and I’m happy to share that her work is now an important piece of bringing awareness to truth and reconciliation within the City of Toronto.”
At first, Ms. Roy was given the directive of designing ‘something for TRC,’ which she admitted to struggling with. Ms. Roy shared that she had ideas involving people handing flowers to children or a large gathering with little footprints all around, but she felt something was amiss. It wasn’t until her co-partners asked for an Every Child Matters theme that it all came together for the graphic designer, who created the sketch under her design company, Rookie Culture.
“This particular design spoke to me most—the mother kissing their child,” Ms. Roy explained. “Even if those children are no longer here, they still mattered. And without the survivors, well, I wouldn’t be here. I’m really proud of it now.”
“My grandmother went to residential school, so it made it that much more sentimental,” she said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking,” Ms. Roy admitted, “knowing this project is under me, but it’s definitely an opportunity. I’m happy I got to do this—it’s only the beginning!”
The t-shirt is available for sale by visiting cityoftoronto.myshopify.com
The short was proudly displayed at all 10 of Toronto’s history museums in the lead-up to TRC day.
