CITXW NLAKA’PAMUX ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCES REBRANDING FEATURING LOGO MADE BY MEMBER

 FOR RELEASE ON DECEMBER 1, 2023

y̓é tək síƛq̓ t (ye-ah tik sheetl-qt) - good day!

The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly is thrilled to announce our new branding, centred around a striking new logo created by an nłeʔképmx artist and Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly member. 

The logo design, created by member, Mike Hill, and inspired by Indigenous rock paintings, features a captivating representation of the sun with eight rays. The choice of eight rays holds symbolic significance, representing the partnership between the eight Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly communities. Each ray signifies a community, coming together to form a united whole.  

“Guided by nłeʔképmx heritage and culture, the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly’s new branding is grounded in a connection with our history and tmixʷ, while symbolizing the visible strength propelling us into a vibrant future,” said Nicole Johnny, Acting Executive Director and Operations Manager for the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly. 

The logo design incorporates an open space on the bottom, reminiscent of valleys, which represents the harmonious coexistence of land, water, and sky. It symbolizes the connection between the natural elements and to our communities that have thrived in our area for generations. 

The inclusion of Indigenous rock paintings within the logo design and other new branding elements, such as soundwaves and pictographs, highlights the cultural heritage and artistic expressions of our peoples. These ancient artworks, etched onto rocks, tell stories of their deep connection with the land, wildlife, and the spiritual significance of their surroundings.  

The perfect circular form of the hand drum uses the circle as a bold holding shape for Mike Hill’s artwork, evocative of the hand painted decoration applied to hand drums. The red colour of the drum shape surrounding the logo creates a strong graphic symbol and combines well with the confident black text of the name. 

“With a logo crafted by one of our members, this transformation brings not only a heightened visibility, but also a robust strength that resonates at the core of our organization, symbolizing unity and strength among our eight Participating Bands,” added Johnny. 

The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly’s new brand idea – connecting with our past, creating our future – highlights our organization’s legacy of strengthening nłeʔképmx rights, values, and titles through cultural, social, employment, and technical programming while honouring and preserving a rich and storied nłeʔképmx history. 

We connect with our past to honour our ancestors and ensure our knowledge and wisdom live on. This is reconnection with tmixʷ, with all living things, protecting and healing our land and nłeʔképmx culture and traditions. We do this in unity, eight Participating Bands standing as one Nation. In gathering and community, we find our strength. We all win when we come together, we are powerful. 

“The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly works with our communities and members to strengthen our nłeʔképmx identity through language, culture, stories and presence (past, present and future) in our Territory,” says Chief Christine Walkem, Chief of Cook’s Ferry and Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly Chair of the Board. 

“As part of the identity of the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly, we sought to have a more meaningful and relatable logo - something that spoke to our name, communities, and purpose. Our new selection speaks more to each of those elements through incorporation of our pictograph images of a house, ‘Citxw,’ and in this Citxw still incorporating the 8 communities and the strengths that we bring to the Citxw through working together. The design is unique and more relatable to our nłeʔképmx people and has a welcoming component to it. It is yet another result of our continued successes through community connection and collaboration.” 

The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly’s new branding will be rolled out in our physical and online presence over the coming months. We appreciate our membership’s patience during this time and welcome any questions surrounding the new branding. Please contact cnacommunications@cna-trust.ca or 250-378-1864.

About the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly  

The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly) was created in 2013 as a powerful and unifying voice for eight Nlaka’pamux Bands regarding the Teck Highland Valley Copper Mine. It is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the eight Participating Bands. Headquartered in Merritt, B.C. with a workforce of over 30, the CNA provides training and job readiness along with cultural, social, and technical programming to the over 2780 members of the eight Participating Bands.

Media contact
Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly Communications
E: cnacommunications@cna-trust.ca
P: 250-378-1864