CFL unveils new Indigenous logo

Photo: CFL

The Canadian Football League has unveiled a new Indigenous logo in recognition of the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The announcement was made on Tuesday.

“The CFL/LCF logo has undergone an Indigenous redesign to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” wrote the league in a release.

“Created in consultation with National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak alongside three Indigenous artists from ChangeMakers, a national communications firm, the logo features ‘Turtle Island,’ which holds cultural and spiritual significance. The term is used by many Indigenous Nations in reference to the creation story of North and Central America.

“Turtle Island is illustrated in the Eastern Woodlands Indigenous Art style and each letter of the logo has been illustrated by an Indigenous artist from a different part of Canada with the C from the West Coast, the F from Central Canada and the L from the East Coast.

“The CFL’s red, grey and black have been maintained with the addition of a warm yellow to reference the Indigenous medicine wheel. An outer ring of the logo has been added and divided into four quadrants to represent the teachings around the four directions, the stages of life, the aspects of being and the natural world.”

All four games this week will feature orange and white pregame jerseys. The Montreal Alouettes, who are on bye this week, will participate in the initiative the following week.

Some teams will raffle or auction off the special jerseys with portions of the proceeds going towards local Indigenous communities and initiatives, while others will be donated to community members and organizations.

The CFL and Wilson have developed customized footballs. The balls feature orange laces, orange Wilson branding, and each club’s Indigenous logo. They will be used in-game for all kicking and punting purposes, and will then be auctioned off or used as gifts to recognize Indigenous leaders and community members.

The league has also partnered with Capital Power to put on Indigenous youth flag football clinics in Edmonton, Calgary, and Hamilton, and introduce a new eight-week flag football program. The partnership raised $60,000 in support of Indigenous Youth Roots last year, and is hoping to do so again this year.

All nine CFL teams have previously unveiled Indigenous logos.