About the Art - The People of the Dawn

My graphic is an homage to the material culture of the Wabanakiyik --
the People of the Dawn. I took inspiration from traditional art objects
such as beadwork, birch bark biting, and birch bark etching. The
design in the centre is a Wabanaki double curve. My graphic is an
homage to the material culture of the Wabanakiyik, translated to "the
People of the Dawn." I drew inspiration from traditional art forms such
as beadwork, birch bark biting, and etching. The central design
features a Wabanaki double curve motif embellished with the stylized
maple leaf from the Canada Games logo.
The double curve symbolizes a person's life journey, encompassing
both the ups and downs and the connections they form throughout
their life. Support networks are so important to an athlete's
progression. With this graphic, I think about the people who come
together to teach, train, and uplift youth in sports.
The tree designs on the sleeves reference Wabanakik (the territory)
and the Wabanaki Creation Stories in which the powerful cultural hero
Glooscap shoots an arrow through the ash tree, leading to the
emergence of people from the split at the tree's center.

About the Artist

Emma Hassencahl-Perley is a Wolastoqey visual artist, arts writer,
educator and curator from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in New
Brunswick. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mount
Allison University (17') and a Masters of Art in Art History from
Concordia University ('22). Emma's visual art practice focuses on
painting, beadwork, and digital illustration.
Themes in her art explore water, the cosmos, Wabanaki feminisms, and
the Wabanaki double-curve motif, symbolizing life cycles and
relationships, including nationhood and community. These motifs serve
as a cultural and aesthetic foundation in Emma's practice, connecting
ancestral Wabanaki material culture with contemporary digital
storytelling techniques

Made from a soft, high-quality fabric blend, this garment offers comfort with meaning perfect for everyday wear or cultural celebration. Finished with the Jeux du Canada Games mark to honour the unity of sport and heritage.

Designed by: Emma Hassencahl-Perley