(RICHMOND, July 2, 2024) – Dodgeball Canada (DC) has just unveiled an Indigenous Team Canada jersey design for all players to don at the World Dodgeball Championships taking place in Graz, Austria this August. The jersey design was revealed in-person at the 2024 National Dodgeball Championship that took place over Canada Day weekend in Richmond, BC. Soon after, DC revealed the design online, driving to a landing page (dodgeballcanada.org/kanata-jersey) to learn more.
This is the first time in the organization’s history where the highly-anticipated Team Canada jersey design has featured an Indigenous theme. The concept was proposed by men’s Team Canada player and Toronto native Joshua Sakura who’s designed previous years Team Canada jerseys. “I wanted to do something different this year, and create something for players who maybe haven’t felt seen in the past,” said Sakura, “I wanted to do it right or not at all.”
“When the concept of an Indigenous jersey was raised, we of course wanted to ensure we did it authentically and respectfully,” shares Dodgeball Canada president Cameron Booth, “and so we leaned on several members from Indigenous communities across the country to properly bring this to life. We’re thrilled with the result, and hope players and fans are too.”
Dodgeball Canada enlisted award-winning Haida Gwaii artist April White (SGaana Jaad meaning Killer Whale Woman) of Dadens Yahgu’jaanaas Raven clan who used a traditional pencil-and-paper method to create the artwork featured on the jersey. Her niece, Tanya Gudangée Tláats’gaa White, then digitized April’s design to be used on the jersey. The core of April’s design is inspired by a supernatural being known as the WáasG̱u, or Seawolf – representing a combination of a wolf and killer whale. “By humbly slipping into this [jersey] for competition…the team transforms,” explains April, “realizing greater speed, agility, strength, and power. By wearing this ‘cloak’, they become WáasG̱u to challenge their opponents in the game.”
The familiar CANADA spelling normally featured on the Worlds jersey has been replaced with KANATA – the Huron-Iroquois word believed to inspire Canada’s name, meaning “village” or “settlement”. The flag featured on the left sleeve is the Canadian Indigenous flag designed by the late Kwakwaka’wakw artist Curtis Wilson. The jersey design is featured in both a blue and black version.
This year, Dodgeball Canada’s National squad includes twelve players representing Indigenous communities across the country – more representation than ever before in the team’s history. One of those players includes Jenna-Dee Sanche who shared, “As a woman proudly rooted in the Red River Métis Nation from St. Laurent Manitoba, this moment holds immense significance for me, and having the opportunity to wear this jersey for my home country means the world to me.”
Jerseys are currently for sale to the public (https://vcultimate.com/collections/dodgeball-canada-team-canada-2024-fan-shop). A portion of jersey sales are being donated to the Xluu Xaada Naay Society – a community centre in Masset, BC dedicated to the preservation of Haida arts, culture, and language. Dodgeball Canada will also be leveraging April’s design for a t-shirt fundraiser in September to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Month, wherein all proceeds will be donated to a Canadian Indigenous sport organization.
About Dodgeball Canada
Dodgeball Canada is a federally-incorporated not-for-profit organization that represents thousands of dodgeball players across the country. The organization consists of members from Victoria to St. John’s, and many points in between, and aims to create a community of athletes from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Dodgeball Canada supports player development for all ages and skill levels, and supports international development as an active Executive Member of the World Dodgeball Federation. Its members strive to make the organization the most innovative, trusted, and valued source of information for dodgeball in Canada. Our goal is to be a leader in engaging players, coaches, officials and leagues at a national level. As a member-based organization, Dodgeball Canada will grow the sport of dodgeball and promote its benefits amongst Canadians of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and skill levels.
Website: https://www.dodgeballcanada.org/