The serenity of a northern sky above the gentle waves of a lake and the tall trees of the surrounding forest are part of the inspiration behind graphic designer Kelly Henson’s Indigenous-themed artwork that will adorn the Portage College Voyageurs’ team jerseys starting this year.

The jersey design was officially unveiled to a crowd of community members on June 20 at the National Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration hosted jointly by Lac La Biche County and Portage College.

The front and back of the jersey predominantly feature the northern landscape, with a birch bark canoe and a loon in waters that are illuminated by prairie sunshine. The teal, green and purple colour shades throughout the design reflect the magnificent hues of the Northern Lights that shine through the night skies of the region.

“Indigenous people have a deep connection with nature, and my goal was to capture this along with a sense of place, connection, and history,” says Henson, st who grew up in the Rich Lake area near Lac La Biche. “When I think of this region, I envision the boreal forest, the night sky renowned for its spectacular northern lights and star-filled skies and the many beautiful lakes.”

The design not only portrays a landscape – but also the history and heritage of the region.

“The canoe honours the Indigenous history, most recently of the Chipewyan, Cree, and Métis peoples — and the birch bark canoe’s significance before the voyageurs’ era,” she says, explaining that the design’s origin also builds from a connection to learning pathways. “The loon is shown taking flight, symbolizing the journey of a student - with the support of their family, culture, community and teachers - and the transformational power of post-secondary education.”

The design also includes a painted handprint and the phrase “Pe-ta-Pun,” printed in Cree syllabics that translates to mean “New Dawn.” The phrase is the original name given to Portage College by its Indigenous founders following a 1970 sit-in protest where Indigenous leaders successfully took action to keep the College open and their voices heard.

Henson is proud to have had the opportunity to create the visual tribute to the region, its people, and the College. She credits some of the design inspiration to her own early connections with Indigenous art and the region.

“The design is also influenced by the incredible collection of Indigenous art, including The Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. at the Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art & Artifacts, housed at the College that I have admired since I was a child,” she says.

The new jerseys will see game-worn use in the upcoming Alberta Colleges Athletic Association seasons of the Portage College men’s and women’s soccer teams and the men’s hockey team.