The children are protected under the Northern Lights in Inuit artist’s Orange Shirt design

“I want my design to make people feel loved on a day where they might need it a little more,” says Kaytlyn Amitnak Niego. 

Who was asked by Northwestel to create the design for their 2023 orange shirt in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Every September 30th, Canadians wear orange to commemorate and to honor the Survivors, their families and communities of Residential Schools in Canada.

“I know this day affects a lot of people so I put a lot of extra love into the art for this shirt with the intention that when someone wears it, they will feel it,” she states.

Kaytlyn’s inspiration

With oil paints and canvases on the table and the spirits of the Northern Lights shimmering out the window, Kaytlyn and her six-year-old daughter Serenity start to paint. “She’s always next to me, sometimes trying to imitate my design, sometimes doing her own,” says Kaytlyn, who found inspiration for her concept while close to her kin. 

The design features a mother figure wearing an amauti and uplifting a child, representing the collective, to the safety of the Northern Lights. Kaytlyn shared that in Inuit culture, green coloured lights in the sky have spirits and are the protectors of children. 

With National Day for Truth and Reconciliation empowering the statement, ‘Every Child Matters’, Kaytlyn wanted to emphasize the importance of protecting children and giving a voice to those who didn’t always have one. On the back of the shirt, ‘Every Child Matters’ is translated into 18 Northern Indigenous languages in a circular sweep, depicting the circle of life. 

“We wouldn’t have children without the women who carry them, develop them, care for them, and nurture them, so I wanted to represent the circle of life that comes from women, who once were children themselves.” she explains.

“Women were once children, who carry the children of tomorrow, they are the past, present, and future. Every woman matters because every child matters.”

About the artist

Born and raised in Baker Lake, Nunavut, Kaytlyn learned to paint from her grandmother, who encouraged her to express herself creatively, even if it was on the living room wall. As she grew up, Kaytlyn developed a preference for oils and gained an appreciation for what she calls the abstract style of her Inuit culture. 

Living in the only inland community in Nunavut, Kaytlyn uses her local surroundings and experiences as inspiration, she favours incorporating the Aurora Borealis into many of her works of art. “I like to paint at night when the Northern Lights are out,” she says. As a flight attendant, she has even seen the Northern Lights from great heights, feeling as though she could reach out and touch them through the plane window. 

Kaytlyn and her sister Hattie at the Jessie Oonark Centre in Baker Lake

Thank-you Kaytlyn for your beautiful and meaningful design for Northwestel’s Orange Shirt!

Northwestel is committed to following the path of Truth and Reconciliation. We serve 96 communities, each on the traditional territories of First Nations, Métis , and Inuit peoples. We are grateful for the many Indigenous partnerships over 40 years that have helped build a strong northern network. 

In 2022 we made public commitments to take real action in our Reconciliation Plan. Find out how we’re working with Northern Indigenous communities and governments to build a better future for all. www.nwtel.ca/reconciliation

If you are a residential school survivor or know someone who is seeking support, please visit www.hopeforwellness.ca to call, chat online, or find additional resources. 

Photo credit: Daniel Tapatai
Daniel is a 17-year-old, Inuk photographer from Baker Lake, Nunavut