Indigenous artist Laura Saul (left) standing with Blazers assistant GM Tim O'Donovan with jersey that sports her own design (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

BLAZERS INDIGENOUS LOGO

Tk’emlups artist who designed special Blazers logo inspired by uncle’s Indigenous story

Mar 30, 2022 | 4:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — Laura Saul worked for months to come up with this unique design. She wasn’t satisfied with her first couple drafts, but then she heard an Indigenous story from her uncle Peter Michel that inspired her.

“Coyote was asking bear, ‘How do I catch salmon?’ He tricked bear into saying, ‘I’ll catch salmon for the people,’ but as soon as [coyote] was taught, he started to dig up a huge pile for himself. He hid it. That’s Mt. Paul,” said Saul, who received help on the design from her sister Emma.

“Then, bear went away again, dug up another pile, even bigger than the other. That’s Mt. Peter. He couldn’t keep hiding it from bear at that point, so they began a chase around, and that’s why you can see Mt. Paul and Mt. Peter in the background.”

The logo, and the story behind it, was ultimately chosen by the Blazers. The team was inspired by the B.C. Lions, who commissioned a special logo ahead of the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation last Sept. 30.

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“They did a jersey and a logo that was done by an Indigenous artist and we thought that was such a great logo and such a great idea. We thought locally here we could try and replicate that and do the same thing,” said Blazers assistant GM Tim O’Donovan.

The Blazers have held an Indigenous Night for years and worn special jerseys before, but not ones designed by a local Indigenous member.

They put out a call to Tk’emlups to Secwepemc artists last fall and settled on what fans will see at Wednesday night’s game.

“It’s amazing. I think the story behind it is just so unique and so cool,” said O’Donovan. “Mt. Paul and Mt. Peter are part of it, and the bear and the coyote. It really encompasses our heritage in Kamloops and such a unique piece to it that they’ve been really popular.”

The Blazers have each player’s jersey up for auction online with all the proceeds going right back to Tk’emlups te Secwepemc. Logan Stankoven’s has proven the most popular, sitting at $1,250 before the game.

For Saul, it’s overwhelming to see the community’s response to her design.

“It’s just really nice. I think it’s great, too, knowing that it’s for a really great cause. It’s going back to the band. It’s just a nice feeling [and] very surprising.”

It’s also a relief for Saul, who was unsure about the logo and how it would be received. However, she’s happy with the end product.

“I think seeing the work that’s been done on it with the colours, like the orange, and the band logo and also ‘Every Child Matters’ against the white background, it looks wonderful,” said Saul. “It was definitely a collaborative effort. I like it now that I’ve seen it.”

Saul will be in attendance at tonight’s game and be part of the pre-game ceremony, blaring the siren to amp up the crowd.