Shelby Gagnon, a 2-Spirit Anishinaabe/Cree artist, collaborated with Goldline Curling and Curling Canada to create uniforms for Canada's 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic curling team. Her designs incorporate Indigenous symbolism, emphasizing connections to land, water, and nature. The uniforms, featuring a Maple Leaf and hummingbird motifs, were unveiled in Halifax to widespread acclaim.
Shelby Gagnon's artwork brings a fresh perspective to curling, one of Canada's cherished sports. As a 2-Spirit Anishinaabe/Cree artist and activist, Gagnon partnered with Goldline Curling, the sport's leading equipment supplier, and Curling Canada for the True North series of merchandise ahead of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. The collaboration began organically in September 2024, when Goldline president Erin Flowers discovered Gagnon's work in a Thunder Bay magazine and a local mural. They connected through mutual friends in the curling community and worked alongside Regina-based designer Steph Schmid.
Gagnon's designs highlight her deep ties to nature. The Maple Leaf, central to the Canadian flag, features flowing lines symbolizing water—calming and meaningful, reflecting her upbringing near Lake Superior, or Gichigami. "I like to incorporate a lot of water and water elements," Gagnon said. "We are water, and it's so important to honour the water and to protect the water." The uniforms include full-sleeve artwork with the Maple Leaf on the back, symbolizing national support for athletes.
A hummingbird motif adds Olympic relevance, its four-year lifespan mirroring the quadrennial Games. In Indigenous culture, the bird represents a visitor from the spirit world, akin to athletes' travels and high-energy performances. "When that main bird comes to you, it's like a visitor... It's like your ancestor, or someone in another world, coming to greet you," Gagnon explained. She created the design quickly on her iPad, opting for flowy lines that capture the bird's swift nature and rapid heartbeat.
Flowers approached the project sensitively, aware of issues surrounding Indigenous art appropriation. "Your art blows my mind. Let's see what we can do," she told Gagnon, ensuring collaboration and deference. Manufacturing challenges arose, with delays in early January leading to air-shipped stock for Olympic trials in Halifax, which sold out instantly.
Unveiled at the end of November in Halifax, the uniforms received an emotional response from the curling community. Older athletes, including those from Colleen Jones' generation, praised the designs. "I've worn this Maple Leaf, I have coached this Maple Leaf... And I'm 75 years old, and I've never seen anything like this that feels like this," one shared with Flowers. Gagnon prioritizes relationships over commercialization, noting Indigenous artists' under-remuneration, while Flowers called the art "a gift" symbolizing good luck for journeys ahead.
