Alpine skier Cassidy Gray and Shuswap artist Trinda Cote collaborated to honor Indigenous culture and highlight the trauma of Indian residential schools..
Gray, from Invermere, British Columbia, grew up learning about the local First Nations in the school. Before the World Cup season, Gray decided to pay to them by contacting the Shuswap group and asking them to put her in touch with the artist to design his helmet.
“Don’t hit me how much people missed (the education of First Nations people) across the country, until the rest of Invermere and realized that it was not so present elsewhere,” Gray said. “I think I was lucky to get all this experience and knowledge at a young age, because it’s really normal for me.
“I want to where this to a community, which is alpine skiing, which is not, as far as representation.”
The Shuswap Indian Band set Gray in touch with Cote, whom Gray had already met through her sister.
“It’s a small town, it is known to all,” Gray said.
Cote then set out to create a design that paid to the Shuswap, but also inspired by the elements of the Every Child Matters movement.
“It’s a huge honor and I think to help to raise awareness, especially for those who don’t know much about First Nations bands or trauma Indian residential schools,” said Cote, 17. “It’s super, super important to me, because I actually had close family and friends, who endured the Indian residential schools.
“I think definitely bring light to residential schools and Indigenous communities. I think to help all Indigenous communities, as a whole.”
Gray has worn the helmet through the World Cup season, competing in the giant slalom and Super-G events in places like France and Austria.
Alpine Canada will announce its Thursday team, and to the upcoming Beijing Olympics, where Gray hopes to compete.
Cote wants his friend to participate in the Winter Games and is looking forward to seeing the helmet which is designed on the biggest stage in sports.
“I’ve always been proud to be the First Nation,” Cote said. “Growing up in my balance, I am very proud to share my Indigenous history.”
Cote drew drawing on an ipad, with the next printed as decal that Gray had been attached to his helmet.
A salmon is a concept of drawing. Chinook salmon originating in the Columbia Valley and the Shuswap are known as the salmon people. Cote also incorporated into the valleys in the artwork, because she and Gray are from the Columbia Valley. Close to the Mount Nelson is also included, as is a large dorsal fin.
Cote made orange salmon to pay to the thousands of children who have experienced trauma in Canada’s Indian residential schools.
Even a salmon in the helmet argument rather than symbolism for Cote and the Shuswap. This is a permanent, political, photography in the region.
Mark Thomas, who is a member of the Shuswap Band Council, said salmon restoration in the Columbia River is an essential part of reconciliation for local First Nations. The Secwépemc, the Ktunaxa and the Niitsitapi have been action for almost a century with different levels of control to restore the fish of the country channels.
“I think it was (Cote) is mind pay attention to some of the losses we’ve suffered the community according to the salmon, and that has happened to us as people,” Thomas said. “I am so proud that he did this and was able to express himself in this form, and the light in fate, that we have been doing for 80 years, since we lost our salmon.”
Gray said she was “really proud” of the Cote work, and they all thought the artist put into the work.
“Everything set up there, there’s a meaning behind it,” Gray said. “It’s cool that I carry this over in my head all the time, and that I represent, who do not get the representation they deserve in alpine skiing community.”
This Canadian Press report was first published in January. 19.
Note to the reader: This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectly identified Cassidy Gray for Trinda Cote in a photo of the cut line.