Riders to wear Indigenous-designed logo during Saturday’s game

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are debuting a new, Indigenous-designed logo ahead of the team’s home game on Saturday.

The logo was designed by Chris Chipak, a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation who lives in Saskatoon and was commissioned by the team in order to recognize the Roughriders’ commitment to truth and reconciliation. The logos will be displayed on the Riders’ helmets at the team’s kisiskaciwan game, a celebration of Indigenous culture which will see the Roughriders taking on the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium.

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Chipak previously designed an Indigenous-inspired logo used by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

“My focus on this piece was to promote the importance of the land and the beauty of the prairies,” Chipak said in a statement.

“I hope as this logo is revealed it provides healing, hope and inclusion to all. I wanted this to be a timeless logo that heals us from the past, make us feel in the present, and gives us hope for a better future.”

The logo incorporates a buffalo, “which embodies the spirit of the Saskatchewan prairies,” along with a ribbon-like skyline to invoke images of ribbon skirts and the province’s identity as “the land of the living skies.” The logo also includes a flowing river with eight circles inside it, representing the eight native berries of the province, along with grasses and roots to symbolize a connection with the land.

Many parts of the new logo hold deeper meanings, related to Indigenous and Saskatchewan culture. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted)

“The two upright feathers evoke a sense of respect and honour, while representing Two-Spirited people, acknowledging their roles as guides and their diverse perspectives within the community,” the team explained. “Feathers are a powerful symbol of the highest form of respect and the importance of inclusivity.”

The team’s president and CEO Craig Reynolds said the Riders are proud to showcase the new logo.

“Each element of the logo is steeped with deep meaning, and we hope Rider Nation will not only wear it with the same pride as our football team but take a moment to reflect on Truth and Reconciliation and our connection to each other,” Reynolds said in a statement.

The game on Saturday will also see players wearing orange warm-up jerseys featuring the team’s name spelled in Cree syllabics.

“All jerseys will be raffled off by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation with funds raised going to Indigenous programming including the Northern Saskatchewan Football League, Grow the Game camps in Indigenous communities and a soon-to-be-launched Inner City Football league,” the team noted.

Kickoff for the game is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.