Every Child Matters T-Shirt 2025

The limited edition Every Child Matters t-shirt for 2025 is designed by third-year student and president of Laurier's Indigenous Students' Association, Arrianna Carello.

Read what Arrianna's background and what she had to say about her inspiration for the design.

Tell us about your background and what brought you to Laurier.

My name is Arrianna Carello, I am an Ojibwe/Anishinaabe woman from Henvey Inlet First Nation, though I was born and raised in Timmins. Growing up in a small town, I knew I wanted to go to a smaller university where I could still feel that sense of closeness. One of my high school teachers had attended Laurier and spoke so highly of her experience that she connected me with another student from Timmins who was here. After hearing their stories, I came for a tour, loved the campus, and soon after accepted my offer. Since then I have truly grown so much–I am now in third year of my BA Psychology program and serve as president of Laurier’s Indigenous Students’ Association.

Can you describe the elements of your Every Child Matters orange shirt design and the significance of the symbolism in it?

When creating my orange shirt design, I really reflected on what Laurier has given me and what I wanted to express. The theme that stood out most to me was community.

Since coming to Laurier, I’ve found an incredible community through my program and academics, the Indigenous Student Centre, clubs, events, and the people I’ve met. I’ve learned how vital it is to surround yourself with people who truly want to see you succeed and who encourage you to grow. In community, we don’t just survive, we thrive when we support each other and that’s what I wanted to capture in this design.

The hands reaching out symbolizes the act of supporting one another. In community, we are always within reach and ready to support and uplift each other when needed.

The river that flows down the middle represents both the lands we are on and the Two Row Wampum Treaty. With hands on each side, it shows the agreement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to live together in peace and harmony. This river then flows between the hands into a heart, symbolizing that when we live in community and care for one another, we create and share love.

The small flowers around the heart honour my Ojibwe identity and history. As a mixed Anishinaabe person, I wanted to celebrate my culture alongside that of the Haudenosaunee, showing how all our stories and traditions together shape the world we live in.

The last aspect, the braid of sweetgrass encircling it all. Sweetgrass is a medicine that brings positivity and renewal. This element was inspired by my work in the Indigenous Food and Medicine Sovereignty Garden at the Northdale Campus. There I’ve witnessed how caring for Mother Earth is reciprocated, and when you take the time to plant and care for her, she gives back food to nourish us and medicines to heal us.

Altogether, these elements create my vision of the world we should strive for: one where we support each other, live with peace, and carry the Good Mind–using good words and good actions. From that, we can build a future filled with love and hope for the generations yet to come.