On Saturday afternoon, the Ottawa REDBLACKS are recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including a logo by Mike Ivall.
Ivall lived the first handful of years of his life with the Chippewas of Georgina Island, before he moved to Toronto. It was there that he fell in love with the Canadian Football League, attending Argonauts games with his aunt, eventually becoming a die-hard fan.
After his aunt passed away, his love for the game dissipated, but in 2017, his passion was rekindled, partially thanks to the REDBLACKS.
“When I came back, I loved watching Henry Burris and Brad Sinopoli, so I felt like Ottawa was my second team, on the low down,” Ivall said with a laugh.
In the same way he re-found his passion for the CFL, Ivall has worked to reconnect with the culture he feels was left behind in his move to Toronto all of those years ago. He’s forthcoming, noting that he’s still doing a lot of learning, but it’s something he has become dedicated to.
Part of his process has been his artwork, including redesigning a handful of CFL logos. While the REDBLACKS are the only team to officially adopt Ivall’s work, he has been going through nearly all of them, creating new versions that help him connect with his roots once again.
“This is me coming back to culture,” Ivall said. “It’s me finding my way. I have felt the calling later in my life, and in my head, I knew I had to attach myself to my culture.”
Inside the logo, there are two significant elements. The first one is what is known as the medicine wheel. It’s a white, yellow, red, and black wheel that has been used for generations for health and healing. But the meanings are nearly endless, Ivall says.
“It represents direction, unity, elements of the culture, and all of the races,” Ivall said. “It’s everything that we hold value for.”
The second major element is on the bottom right side. Ivall describes it as a “squiggly line,” but adds that it means far more than that.
To him, it’s the creator. It symbolizes everything that is, was, or ever will be.
“I put him in everything,” Ivall explained. “For me, he is everything. The creator is me, and it’s you. We’re all connected through that. He surrounds everything. It’s a big part of me right now.”
While other elements of the logo don’t hold some deeper meaning, they stand out as an expression of who Ivall has become. It’s his own style, and the combination of the jagged edges of the saw blade and the smooth, rounded details work together to express his journey.
If there’s one thing he wants to get across with this design, it’s that we’re all in this together, regardless of race, sex, or sexual orientation.
“No matter what colour you or I am, we’re still connected,” Ivall said.
We will be selling hats with the logo that Mike has created. Proceeds from the purchase of these items will be donated to the Wabano Centre. Wabano is a wholistic health and cultural centre supporting Ottawa’s Indigenous community. The centre provides a wide range of medical clinics, social services and support, and youth programs for Ottawa’s 40,000+ Indigenous people.
