Coast Mountain College (CMTN) is proud to unveil our outstanding End Stigma logo created by Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art student and artist Satsi Naziel.
Naziel is a two-spirited artist of Wet’suwet’en and Chilean descent who has been adopted into the Gilseh’yu (Big Frog Clan). They created the art logo while in hospital recovering from a mental health crisis.
“This design means a lot to me because I did it at a time where my mental health really did matter,” says Naziel.
“And breaking that stigma was a really big thing for myself.”
This February, CMTN launched its first End Stigma month to normalize conversations around mental health through a variety of student events and initiatives. T-shirts, tote bags and stickers with the campaign logo, which features Naziel's design with the words "End the Stigma, Mental Health Matters" wrapped around it, are being distributed to students for free to help get the message out.
Student engagement officer Emma De Vynck spearheaded the campaign and the End Stigma logo design contest, with help from CMTN Accessibility Services Coordinator Kezia Sinkewicz.
“It’s important for people to express themselves and art is one great way to do that,” says Sinkewicz.
“Campaigns are also a good way to encourage people to seek help and challenge stigma.”
For this logo campaign, De Vynck explains they received submissions from across the region, but Naziel’s piece was a showstopper.
“The first time you look at this piece, it’s just very bold. And then you take a little more time with the art, and you see there’s so many little elements to it,” says De Vynck.
“It really pulls you in.”
Naziel says they battled with depression and anxiety as a child, then schizophrenia at age 19 and was most recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Their design represents a long journey with mental health, with every element signifying a different aspect of themself.
“The two eagles coming out of the brain with a DNA strand to me represents my journey with schizophrenia,” says Naziel.
“[The] two different moods of mania and depression [in bipolar disorder] are representative in the two eagles as well.”
Naziel also points to a more positive symbolism in illustrating the eagles.
“[In my culture, eagles are also] seen as very spiritual beings, bringing blessings and prayers with others,” explains Naziel.
“It’s a way to represent illness in a good way, that there is hope for healing, hope for recovery and hope to live a normal life”
Naziel says they have been creating art since they could hold a crayon. They learned the basic craftsmanship of northwest coast art first from their father, then began creating their own designs as a teenager and further as an art student at CMTN.
For them, having their artwork chosen to be the face of the End Stigma campaign has brought them great pride to see the logo worn by so many people across the region.
“It makes me feel so great — like I came through as an artist, and to have my personal story and my own self characteristic to help break the stigma with mental health," Naziel adds.
While their professional career is taking off with requests for art commissions, Naziel is looking forward to completing the rest of their schooling at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art.
If you want to check out more of Naziel’s artwork, visit their website at www.satsinaziel.com
CMTN students can find their free t-shirt at any upcoming End Stigma event this month or email Emma at edyvynck@coastmountaincollege.ca to arrange a campus pick-up.