The Kanata Jersey

Dodgeball Canada's 2024 Team Canada jersey is unlike any other. It celebrates and acknowledges our Indigenous friends and communities across the country, including the individuals who've made up our Canadian Team since 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

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Through a traditional Indigenous art style, the design represents strength, generosity, and humility, and
Dodgeball Canada is honoured and grateful to have worked alongside members of the Indigenous community
to bring this concept properly to fruition.  
 

The Artist + Designer

 

 

 

 

 

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For this year’s design, Dodgeball Canada enlisted award-winning Haida artist April White. April White, or SGaana Jaad (Killer Whale Woman), was born on Haida Gwaii and belongs to the Dadens Yahgu’jaanaas Raven clan. She is a descendant of and related to a long line of highly-respected and very collectable Haida Master Carvers.
To learn more about April White and her work, visit www.aprilwhite.com.   

 

Following April’s creation of the Indigenous art elements, the jersey look and layout was designed by
Dodgeball Canada’s very own Men’s Foam player Joshua Sakura.  

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The Design

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The core of this year’s jersey design is inspired by a supernatural being known as the WáasG̱u, or Seawolf - representing a combination of a wolf and killer whale. The Seawolf is known to bring great luck and wealth to anyone fortunate enough to spy it, or hear its soulful howl. The circular Seawolf crest features a blowhole in the centre surrounded by dorsal fins to represent the whale, with the face, teeth, claws, limbs, and tail representing the wolf.
 

The familiar CANADA spelling normally featured on the Worlds jersey has been replaced with KANATA - the Huron-Iroquois word believed to inspire Canada’s name, meaning “village” or “settlement”. The flag featured on the left sleeve is the Canadian Indigenous flag designed by Kwakwaka’wakw artist, Curtis Wilson.
To learn more about the artist and flag design, visit www.canadianindigenousflag.ca.  

 

Did You Know?
 

Since Team Canada's inception in 2012, there's been Indigenous representation on our roster 12 times. In 2024, we had more representation than ever before:
 

• Guylaine San Filippo (2016, 2017 Women’s Foam, 2024 Mixed Foam assistant coach) 

• Natasha O’Reilly (2017 Maple Leaf, 2024 Women’s Cloth)

• Catie Brady (2022 Women’s Foam)

• Taylor Yuel (2022, 2024 Mixed Foam)

• Brandon Willier (2024 Mixed Cloth) 

• Jenna-Dee Sanche (2024 Mixed Foam)

• Alyssa Wright (2024 Women’s Foam)

• Jessica Allan (2024 Women’s Cloth)

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Proceeds

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A portion of proceeds from every 2024 TC jersey sold will be donated to the Tluu Xaada Naay Society -
a community centre in Masset, BC dedicated to the preservation of Haida arts, culture, and language. 
To learn more about the Tluu Xaada Naay Society, visit www.tluuxaadanaay.ca.   

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Thank You / Gila'kasla / Hai Hai / Miigwetch / Maarsii

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Dodgeball Canada would like to extend its utmost gratitude to April White (SGaana Jaad), Tanya Gudangée Tláats’gaa White, Curtis Wilson, Susan Braverman, Brian Gisel, Guylaine San Filippo, Natasha O’Reilly, Catie Brady, Brandon Willier, Jenna-Dee Sanche, Taylor Yuel, Alyssa Wright, Jessica Allan, and many other members of the Indigenous community who’ve graciously provided us with guidance, insight, and inspiration for an incredible design that players across Canada and the world will be proud to wear. As an organization, we’re committed to continuing our relationship with Indigenous partners to bring our beloved sport to more communities and players.

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