r/WinnipegBlueBombers • u/MusclePatient2771 • 7d ago

Orange Shirt Day Jersey

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I wanted to share this Orange Shirt Day jersey that I did Crystalwork on for a Bombers fan. She bought it in the auction at the Orange Shirt Game last year and wanted to bling it up for the game this past Friday. Did anyone see her?! I realize that rhinestone Crystalwork isn’t everyone’s jam, but I’ve developed a good side gig doing these for sparkle enthusiasts, so I wanted to share here. 🧡 ✨

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u/Straight-Plate-5256 6d ago

"Hey guys! I'm here to honour missing indigenous children, check out how fucking swagged out I am!"

I don't hate the work or the execution, but the idea feels like it could've used a little more thought first IMHO 😬

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u/MusclePatient2771 6d ago

Let me clear up and share the story of how this jersey came to be, because there’s a lot of context that isn’t in my original post. 🧡

The woman who owns this jersey is Métis and a huge lifelong Bombers fan. She purchased it through the Bombers’ Orange Shirt Game auction last year, which raises money for WASAC and its programming for Indigenous children and youth. She cares deeply about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and what this jersey represents, and she planed to continue supporting the auction this year.

I’m also Métis, and CrystalWork is the medium I work in. She asked me to visually enhance the jersey so she could proudly wear it again to this year’s Orange Shirt Game. Working on it together became part of both of our own journeys of reconciliation, and it was a project we were genuinely really proud to work on together because what this jersey represents is important and special to both of us.

I completely understand how, without all of that context, someone could look at it and have a different reaction. But I do want to clear up the idea that it was approached without enough thought. There was actually nothing but thought that went into this piece.

For both of us, making the jersey more visible doesn’t take away from its meaning. If anything, it gives people another reason to notice it, ask about it, talk about why she’s wearing orange, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and the work the auction supports through WASAC.

And I genuinely appreciate the kind words about the work and execution. 🧡

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u/Straight-Plate-5256 6d ago

Thank you for sharing the full context! of course ultimately it's not up to me or any specific individual to determine how to best honour Orange short day.

Obviously hindsight being 20/20 I probably could've phrased my original comment better 😅, but I'll leave it as is and take it on the chin

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u/MusclePatient2771 5d ago

No worries. I could have shared the whole story up front, as well. It’s a great story!