Youth 2024 Every Child Matters Orange Shirt

This year’s Every Child Matters Shirt, is a beaded basket that was designed by my late Grandfather Norman Natrall and beaded by my late Grandmother Mildred Natrall, both were Residential School Survivors. Together they continued to share our culture, our history and visual storytelling through their various art forms that included beading, wood carvings, knitting, original hand drawings and prints.

This heart shaped beaded basket design is a message from my Grandmother, despite life challenges, hardships, and diversity, there is always brighter days to look forward too. I take it as a reflection of the love she had for our family, our community, and our culture. The hands in the text of the Every Child Matters, is a symbol of our appreciation and giving thanks to our ancestors who fought so hard to survive and preserve our culture, our history and oral teachings so generations after them can carry them on with love and pride.

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