Sacred symbols Winnipegger’s artwork chosen for Walmart’s national Orange Shirt offering By: AV Kitching Posted: 4:40 PM CDT Monday, Sep. 22, 2025

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As she walked into the Unicity Walmart department store, Indigenous artist Brooklyn Rudolph-Nicholas felt her excitement levels rising.

She headed towards the racks of instantly recognizable orange T-shirts, smiling as she glimpsed the familiar image on the front.

It was a pinch-me moment: her work was emblazoned on Walmart Canada’s National Day for Truth & Reconciliation orange shirts stocked in stores across the country.

The granddaughter of two residential school survivors, Rudolph-Nicholas made her T-shirt art in honour of her late grandparents.

Every element in the picture holds meaning: depicts two children with their backs towards the viewer, holding hands they face a body of water fringed by trees and a hazy sun ahead of them. On the periphery of the image, an eagle soars as the North Star shimmers ahead.

“Both my grandparents attended Guy Hill Residential School and the children in the painting represent them and all the children who have been impacted by residential schools,” says the 27-year-old artist. “The holding of hands express the powerful connection, a symbol of unity and resilience, shared with all those who endured these schools.

“If there was one thing my grandpa always told me and my family it was to always share love. So I really wanted to include that teaching in this painting.”

She explains that the eagle flying above represents love, one of the Seven Sacred Teachings shared among many Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. In Cree, the North Star is called Keewatin — known as the “Going Home Star,” it’s leading the children home.

“I definitely wish my grandparents were here to see it,” she says. “They both passed away, but I know they’re really proud.”

The work of the Winnipegger and of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation member was chosen by Indigenous Proud as part of its Walmart Canada Orange Shirt collaboration.

The Indigenous Proud label falls under British Columbia-based Naut’sa mawt Resources Group, which supports Indigenous-led efforts to recover, reclaiam and revitalize Indigenous culture, language and arts.

“I definitely wish my grandparents were here to see it.”

Rudolph-Nicholas had seen the group’s callout for artists to submit their design for consideration in September last year. She had hesitated at first but her now-husband’s faith in her abilities prompted her to apply.

“I thought my chances were very slim because there are so many amazing and talented Indigenous artists here. But he really encouraged me even after I said I didn’t think I was going to get it. He told me I had to just do it anyway,” she says with a laugh.

“I am so thankful for him.”

Rudolph-Nicholas started taking art seriously after Mary Zornak, a teacher at St. John’s High School in the North End of Winnipeg, set her class a task.

“The majority of us in class were Indigenous, so she thought it was an good opportunity for us to start creating Indigenous art,” Rudolph-Nicholas says. “It was so beautiful, because she wasn’t even an art teacher and she wasn’t even Indigenous. She just appreciated the culture and she wanted to help us thrive. She didn’t know it at the time but she really changed my life.”

Her explorations prompted her to learn more about her Indigenous ancestry; because her grandparents had their culture suppressed at school, she hadn’t learned a lot about her background or who she was.

“But from there on it was an opportunity for me to learn and feel connected to community” she says. “It became a way for me to reclaim my cultural identity through the arts.”

“There is meaning behind my work. I want it to support people who are in need, people who are on their healing journeys.”

Rudolph-Nicholas creates artwork with a strong focus on nature and the environment. The mixed-media artist’s work includes teepee-shaped earrings, handmade jingle dresses and one-of-a-kind natural canvas bags that she designs, sews, hand-dyes and hand-paints.

Her talent is a way for her to create a positive impact in her community and beyond, as well as supporting those in need.

“Ever since I was a child, I noticed whenever I would give my art to others it would make them happy,” she says. “As I got older I realized there was something I could do with this.

She started creating clothing and traditional regalia purses, donating her art to shelters and non-profit organizations.

“It’s not just something that I do for fun. It is fun, but I want to have more of an impact. There is meaning behind my work. I want it to support people who are in need, people who are on their healing journeys. That’s why I create art.”

This is Rudolph-Nicholas’s biggest collaboration yet. It brings with it the most visibility to her creations, and the biggest impact when it comes to raising funds to support residential school survivors. One hundred per cent of the profits generated from the sale of the $15 shirts will go towards the Orange Shirt Society and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

“As a descendant of two residential school survivors, I want people to know that when they support a campaign like this, they are supporting the healing of Indigenous survivors and families across the country,” she says.

“It’s amazing I’ve been given this opportunity. It means so much to not only my family, but to so many families who really need support.”

Rudolph-Nicholas’s 2025 Orange Shirt Day design is on sale in Walmart stores and online.

av.kitching@freepress.mb.ca