"This design is a precious and sacred design to us. I first created the crow with egg concept in 1995 when my wife was pregnant with our child. I envisioned the crow was the messenger cradling the unborn fetus. I represented the fetus as an egg with a star at that time. I wanted to create a gentle and soft cozy feeling with the work. When the Squamish Nation Social Development office asked my wife and I to create a logo for this important National organization, I immediately thought of the crow with egg as the basic concept. I thought of the saying 'It takes a whole community to raise a child,' and represented that with several hands encircling the crow. I also thought of how important the entire family is in supporting the child. Much of my own healing comes from realizing that alcoholism and addiction is a long-term family disease, and the whole family needs to heal to support a healthy child. The family needs to rally around that child. The hands also represent the first time that all the First Nation's communities have come together to create this important national organization. The hands also represent the importance of celebrating all parts of who we are, all our multiple belongings. All the races are equal partners in protecting Mother Earth and the self-esteem of the child. Our children will Inherit Mother Earth from all their ancestors. The fetus concept came from a flyer we received in our Squamish Nation newsletter about the effects of drugs on an unborn child. This Was an example of a healthy fetus, next to an image of a newborn child going through cocaine withdrawal. My wife and I both wanted a logo that would emotionally and spiritually impact on everyone that the child is precious and must be protected. Our children must feel safe within their own families, and in the womb. The colors reinforce this message. We chose soft purple to represent healing, soft blue to represent serenity and calm - keeping the chaos at bay -and black and white representing the negative and positive forces impacting on the child and family. My wife and I have named the design The Cherished Child."
Mintle-e-da-us Wade Stephen Baker, 1999
Sky Spirit Studio: Art Images, North Vancouver, B.C.
