Green may be the colour for the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, but the team is going full-colour with its Indigenous logo.

Introduced last seasonthe Riders’ Indigenous logo initially incorporated different shades of green. But, on Saturday, June 21 — which was National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada — the team unveiled a new, full-colour version of the logo in time for their kisiskâciwan game celebrating Indigenous culture on Saturday, June 28, against the BC Lions.

Both versions of the Indigenous logo were created by Chris Chipak, an artist from Red Pheasant Cree Nation (Treaty 6). “Building on the deep cultural significance of the original design, this refreshed logo highlights the connection to the land, people, and traditions of Saskatchewan’s Indigenous communities,” the Riders said on their website.

According to Chipak, the colours used in the new logo all hold cultural significance:

• Green (grass), blue (river) and yellow (sun) represents the Treaty promise: “as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow”
• Browns (buffalo) draw connections to the land and the relationship the Buffalo shared with it when they roamed the prairies
• Orange (the sky) holds several meanings:
  • “Land of the living sky” orange is bright, bold and hard to ignore like the truths that have come to light about the residential school system and its impact on Indigenous communities
  • Considered the colour of healing through Truth and Reconciliation, the different shades of orange represent we all heal differently
  • The ribbons of orange embody how we all must come together in that journey toward healing
• Orange is also inspired by the colour of the prairie lily, delicate but strong and resilient in the face of harsh prairie conditions and grow naturally in clusters throughout the province – providing the hope that we can mirror its growth in the movement of Truth and Reconciliation
• Grey (feather tip) – a mix of light and dark symbolizes the past – acknowledging the historical injustices within Canada and the future, working together toward Truth and Reconciliation

Here’s what the Riders said last year about the symbols in the logo:

The artist was inspired by the Treaty 4 flag to incorporate the Buffalo, which embodies the spirit of the Saskatchewan prairies and represents the respect for the willingness to offer every part of itself to sustain the lives of others. A connection between the land and the people. The sun emphasizes the Treaty promise and it signifies the interconnectedness of all things to represent the collective effort that is essential to reconciliation. The ribbon-like skyline pays tribute to the province’s identity as “the land of the living skies” and traditional ribbon skirts. The river’s (kisiskaciwan) eight circles symbolize the number of native berries of Saskatchewan. The two upright feathers evoke a sense of respect and honour while representing Two-Spirited people, acknowledging their roles as guides and their diverse perspectives within the community.

While merchandise with the full-colour version of the logo will be sold online and in the Riders’ team store, the all-green version will still appear on the Riders’ helmets for Saturday’s game. A portion of the proceeds from merchandise sales will benefit Indigenous initiatives across Saskatchewan.

Saturday’s annual kisiskâciwan game “will be a true celebration of Indigenous culture,” the Riders said, with a traditional tipi, educational booths, and hands-on language and dance instruction. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. CT at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.