Kalea White-Wildcat, a Grade 5 student at LaPerle Elementary School, is the winner of kihêw waciston’s 2023 Orange Shirt Day Logo Contest.

“Orange Shirt Day is about the children who went to residential schools and lost their lives, and about the healing journeys of the ones who survived,” says White-Wildcat.

The nine-year-old says her design was carefully created to represent children today finding their place in their culture, while learning important information and traditions from their parents and grandparents who have survived residential schools. The girl in her design is dressed in a way that physically embodies healing through culture. 

Kalea White-Wildcat's winning design for the 2023 Orange Shirt Day Logo Contest.

“My mom said that ribbon skirts show healing, and the braids represent a part of healing, too. I always see lots of ladies wearing ribbon skirts to go to ceremonies,” White-Wildcat says.

When she was told that she won the contest, White-Wildcat says it affirmed her choice to pursue a career as an artist in the future. “It meant so much to me because art is my favourite thing to do. It made me and my family proud. I cried,” she says.

“I hope that it makes our people proud.”

Each year, summer students at kihêw waciston choose a winning design for the next Orange Shirt Day design from hundreds of submissions from youth across the city. White-Wildcat’s winning design was sold online by kihêw waciston in August.