A Change in Identity

Giiwedinong is beginning a transition in its visual logo. While many have come to know our Makwa (bear) emblem, we are now moving toward a new design inspired by a pictograph painting from Agawa Rock on Lake Superior near Sault Ste. Marie; an image of a jiimaan; a canoe filled with people.

This shift carries deep meaning for us. The canoe is not only a vessel, but a teaching of shared movement, responsibility, and collective direction. It reflects unity across generations and the understanding that we travel together, not alone. The pictograph itself speaks to continuity; how knowledge is carried, remembered, and renewed across time.

In a moment when our lands and waters face increasing pressures, including the ongoing concerns in places like the Boundary Waters region of Minnesota, this symbol reminds us of what is required of us: care, restraint, and relationship. It speaks to purity not as perfection, but as balance restored through respect. It is a reminder that we are all connected to the water, the land, and each other, and that those relationships must be protected with intention and humility.