Among the many stories that Survivors share about their experiences in Residential Schools, one sentiment sails above the rest:

I want to go home.

Thousands of Indigenous children that attended Residential School endured deep loneliness after being cut off from their families and their communities. In many cases, they could not even connect with their peers using their own languages and knowledges.

The hardship that came with the foreign system and rampant abuses drove many students to run away from school. More often than not, students were tracked down by school or governmental authorities and returned to school; some made it home only to be sent back when parents were threatened with imprisonment; and others died in the pursuit of freedom.

Nursing student Dasia Chatkana designed the 2025 RRC Polytech Orange Shirt design in homage to the children who took the risk to see their families again – who braved treacherous terrains, freezing rain and snow, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers tracking them.

The design began with small footprints trailing between coniferous trees, with the moon hanging above to illuminate the path through the forest. From the focal point, the back of a turtle cradles the journey home, symbolizing one of the seven Grandfather Teachings: truth.

Chatkana says that growing up, hearing stories of escape from Residential Schools resonated deeply with her. She recalls her elementary school Dakota teacher, Kunsi Eastman of Canupawakpa Dakota Nation, retelling her own escape in Dakota class and finding out she was tracked down by authorities and returned to the school the very next day. She would also learn that her late grand-aunt, Kunsi Gracie of Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation, also managed to escape from Birtle Residential School.

Another story that Chatkana says inspired the design was that of Chanie Wenjack, whose escape was chronicled in the 2016 film The Secret Path by Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip. Wenjack was a 12-year-old boy who ran away from the Cecilia Jefferson Residential School in 1966 in an attempt to walk home to Ogoki Post, over 600 kilometres away from the school. His body was found frozen on a railway track on Oct. 22, 1966. He died of starvation and exposure to sub-zero temperatures in nothing more than a windbreaker and a jar of matches.

Chatkana says the piece needed to be about more than recognizing tragedy – it is about honouring bravery and highlighting truth. The stark image of a child’s footprints treading towards the moon through the woods is carried on the back of the slow turtle, a journey within a journey – an expression of the journey that is reconciliation and contained in the truth that the turtle represents.

Chatkana says that, as someone who draws in her free time, writing an artist statement to explain the essence of her piece was not easy. Putting into words the feelings, the stories, and the Teachings that were incorporated into the piece was never something that she had done with any other art piece. While considering how she should articulate the meanings woven through the piece, she realized that the symbolism could be interpreted differently when she asked her sister to look at the piece and provide her impression of it.

“When my sister saw the piece, she thought they were the footprints of Bigfoot… Which I thought was smart, because Bigfoot represents honesty in the Seven Grandfather Teachings,” said Chatkana.

Bigfoot is a spirit that is acknowledged and respected in many Dakota Oyate, Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, and other cultural stories and Teachings. Bigfoot is a witness to truth, always watching to observe the reality of the world – for the children who ran away, Bigfoot saw.

The footprints in the earth evoke a sense of urgency. The children that fled often ran in moments of opportunity – when the priests looked away, when the door was left unlocked, when the lights went out. When the children escaped, they often ran away only with the clothes on their backs – and for children like Chanie Wenjack, it wasn’t possibly enough to help them on the journey home.

“I want people to remember that this is a tribute to the Survivors of Residential Schools, their descendants, and the children who never made it home. The turtle represents the long journey of Truth and Reconciliation that we all must take, like the journey that so many children tried to make home,” said Chatkana.

Chatkana says that, growing up, her family was poor and experienced the tumult that came with the uncertainty of financial insecurity. She didn’t have many toys with which to occupy herself, so she made use of what she had: markers and paper towels.

This is where her pastime for creating art became a passion. She spent a lot of time drawing and at home on reserve, she would enter art contests. She remembers entering little art contests on her reserve – sometimes winning, always just enjoying the act of creating.

She says that she creates art in different media now, and the design for the Orange Shirt was something that she wanted to create that was meaningful not only to her but for the people that will wear the design. She still doesn’t consider herself an artist – but her creative spark has never dulled. Now, she’s entered RRC Polytech’s Nursing program for the fall after completing the Pathway to Health Programs.

Chatkana also expressed gratitude to her grand-uncle, Grandpa Greg, and Kunsi Eastman, who are Knowledge Keepers and Elders in her community. She said their Teachings have been central to her understanding of Dakota culture and language, shaping her identity and sense of belonging. She carries deep respect for them and for the way they keep Dakota culture alive.

Art might not be her profession, but it’s forever a part of her voice. She hopes her piece will resonate with others the way these stories resonated with her.

“Truth and Reconciliation is a long path. But it’s real. We have to have hope and remember. We owe that to those who made the journey before us.”

Artist’s Statement

Creating this piece was challenging for me. I do not consider myself an artist or creative, so I struggled with knowing what to create, but one thing was clear: I wanted to incorporate something related to Residential Schools within a turtle. In many Indigenous cultures in North America, the turtle symbolizes many things. In the Seven Sacred Teachings, the turtle represents truth and wisdom. Sometimes the turtle represents the land, Turtle Island, in stories of the creation of the world. Considering that my design must represent Truth and Reconciliation, I chose the wise turtle as my medium.

After reflecting on how to incorporate Residential Schools into my work, I remembered the many escape stories I have heard, seen, or read about from Residential Schools. Most of these escapes were unsuccessful. Many children were caught and sent back, while some escapes ended in tragedy.

One story that deeply impacted me was Chanie Wenjack’s, which I first learned about in high school through Gord Downie’s documentary Finding the Secret Path. At just 12 years old, Chanie died while trying to return home from a Residential School. With these stories in mind, I had placed small footprints on the turtle’s shell, moving toward the moon, symbolizing how many children escaped under the cover of night, guided only by the moon and stars.

This artwork is a tribute to the Survivors of Residential Schools, their descendants, and the children who never made it home. The turtle and its shell represent the long journey toward Truth and Reconciliation that we must all take. The turtle carries the heaviest truth, much like it carries the weight of the world (Turtle Island). Like a turtle, the path to Truth and Reconciliation is slow, and it will take many years for healing and understanding to truly unfold.

Today, I can see the change slowly unfold before my eyes. I hope one day I can see Truth and Reconciliation and the Calls to Action be fulfilled.

The RRC Polytech Original Orange Shirt, designed by Chatkana, is at the Campus Store for purchase. All proceeds for the Orange Shirt go towards the Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award for Indigenous students.