🧡 As I embarked on my design journey, I wanted to honour my Dad's resilience and my Netzi's (Grandma in Tłı̨chǫ) unwavering spirit, in recognition of her strength when her son, my dad attended Residential School. The flowers in my design, inspired by my Netzi's beadwork, represent growth, healing, and hope. They symbolize the strength that can emerge from even the darkest of times.

The monarch is a testament to transformation and endurance. Just like the butterfly goes through a metamorphosis, my family has gone through a journey of healing and reclaiming our cultural identity. By incorporating these elements into my design, I hope to raise awareness about the intergenerational trauma caused by Residential Schools. I want to celebrate the strength and resilience of Indigenous communities, as well as ignite conversations that lead to understanding and reconciliation.

Through my work, I aspire to empower others to embrace their heritage, no matter how painful their history may be. I believe that by acknowledging our past, we can create a brighter future for all.

It is through open dialogue and understanding that we can work towards a more inclusive and compassionate society. 🦋

🧡 Portion from every shirt sale will be DONATED TO ORANGESHIRTDAY.ORG 🧡The Orange Shirt Society fosters Indian Residential School reconciliation, raising awareness across Canada of the continuing intergenerational impacts of the schools, and of the concept of “Every Child Matters." This design features wildflowers, the first plants to move into the new bare ground after a wildfire, as a symbol of resilience, growth and recovery. They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds.

🧡 Naokah Designs is an Indigenous owned small business, run by Sahtú Dene and Tłı̨chǫ Dene from Canada's Northwest Territories. Each shirt is hand tie dyed, then designs are cut out and pressed, with help from Indigenous community members. Naokah Designs acknowledge that we reside and operate on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg Territory. Masi (thank you) for supporting an Indigenous owned business.