Brad Hamilton

Bears volleyball debuts indigenous-designed orange jerseys

Bears to first wear Jerry Whitehead designed jerseys on September 30th in Calgary

By Connor Hood

Honoring the survivors of Canadian Residential Schools, the Golden Bears Volleyball program will debut their new indigenous-designed orange jerseys on Friday night in Calgary.

The jerseys were designed by prominent Canadian indigenous artist Jerry Whitehead, and created by volleyball apparel provider Jumplete.

The Golden Bears will debut the new orange jerseys in their evening match against the Calgary Dinos on September 30th, along with wearing them on October 21st in their Canada West home-opener at Saville.

“The jerseys are beautiful and the design team did an amazing job, but our goal for these jerseys with our athletes is that when we unbox them, we temper the new-jersey excitement, and replace that with a moment of acknowledgement and recognition for what the jerseys represent,"

Bears Volleyball head coach Brock Davidiuk

“Our athletes have a responsibility in the local, regional, domestic and even international volleyball community, and my hope every time our athletes wear these jerseys, they do so mindfully and with respect, recognition and care for the survivors and families impacted by Residential Schools.”

Along with the artwork and design from Whitehead, the project was funded by UAlberta professor, and indigenous faculty member, Dr. Sean Lessard.

“I thought it was a responsibility that I could take on behalf of my own First Nation community — Montreal Lake Cree Nation,” said Lessard. “Both Brock and Terry get it at a deep level, and I want to work with people like that to make change.”

The jerseys feature a small indigenous family of powwow dancers, backlit by the northern lights radiating upwards. The words ‘Every Child Matters’ is displayed on the back.

“The connection with the Bears Volleyball program and Terry Danyluk began over a decade ago, and I’m happy to be able to collaborate on this jersey, and incorporate my artwork. Every child should have an opportunity in this world — our future are our children. We have to continue to remind ourselves of this and hopefully this world will get better.”

Jerry Whitehead

The Bears will also wear orange shirts and bracelets throughout the day on Friday, and will have Beverly Soonias, mother of former Bear Dallas Soonias, speak to the team that morning on the significance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Two of our core team values are Care and Responsibility,” continued Davidiuk. “The significance of our Canadian history and acknowledging and honouring survivors of residential schools, practices our two values in the local and volleyball communities.

We have a socially conscious group of men, and my hope is to provide a platform to educate our athletes and staff on current social issues. I hope we continue to learn and grow, use this day and opportunity to help educate others, and use our knowledge that is represented through the diversity of our team.”

The orange jerseys will be one of many Orange Shirt Day initiatives at the University of Alberta on Friday, which also includes educational courses, fundraisers for First People’s House, as well as the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Emergency Award.

More information on other UAlberta initiatives can be found HERE.