Mike Roberts sinks into his chair after a full Totem 70 media day.
Going on 20 years as athletic director for Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS), Roberts is notably tired from the press blitz, but revs back up to sing praise about their new Indigenized logo.
“It’s the story of the great flood. It’s the storm,” he said as he pulls up a photo of a traditional woven basket on his phone.
The basket is crafted in a circular pattern to depict a tidal wave.
“Sold. I was totally sold. I shared this with our committee and I said, ‘Guys if you can’t figure out this, is it then we are all idiots’?” he shared.
“In a few years I’m going to retire, and I’d like to think I’ve done a lot here, but this is something I’m going to remember. There was a bunch of us that figured it all out and I think we did the right thing in the end,” Roberts said.
Hesquiaht artist Geena Powa Haiyupis says she feels “privileged” to be the person who created the new logo. She sent Roberts about 20 logo designs for consideration, and in the end, it was her modern take on her Grandma Daisy’s woven basket that came out on top.
“It’s a twofold story,” Haiyupis explained. “There is a story of kałkačuł, which is the snub nose lady who is in Mount Arrowsmith. That’s a landmark for Tseshaht First Nation. I wanted to honour the territory of the Tseshaht People because we all live and learn in the property of Tseshaht.”
Roberts says they really wanted to include Arrowsmith in the refreshed logo.
“Arrowsmith is the silhouette of a woman sideways. She laid down to protect the villagers below from the great flood,” he said.
Jen Wallman from Port Alberni’s JAL Designs worked with Haiyupis’ creation to make it flow nicely for printing and with the fonts. She also added the red portion in the centre.
“I think it’s great,” said Wallman, a member of the ADSS Class of ‘93. “Things get updated with time. I know some people like to stick with tradition, but traditions grow over time and things progress. I think it’s a great logo; more modern. I was happy to be part of it. The athletics department was really easy to work with.”
For Roberts, who doubles as a leadership teacher, the new logo signifies a fresh start for the school and a tangible departure from the archaic Armada team name and ship logo.
“I haven’t heard one person not like it,” said Roberts, who graduated from ADSS in ’86. “This is us. Whether you have it on for your soccer team warm-up or basketball, we’re all walking around with the same thing. We’re together. We’re one. We are ADSS Storm.”
While the senior girls and boys ADDS basketball squads have a couple years left to wear out their jerseys, the junior basketball teams will be sporting the new Storm logo this season.
The word wiiqsii, which means storm in Nuu-chah-nulth language, also appears on variations of Alberni’s logo.
