April 15, 14 Wing Greenwood’s Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG)’s new coin was unveiled on its Facebook Page.
The project initially began as a revision of the Atlantic Defence Regional Advisory Group patch, after the entity’s name was changed to the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group. The 14 Wing DIAG team worked closely with 14 Operations Support Squadron’s Captain Stephanie Juliusson to brainstorm ideas for the new patch design. After careful consideration of the different options Juliusson provided, the team settled on a beautiful turtle design, which it submitted for consideration. Ultimately, the piece was declined in favour of producing a national DIAG patch, giving the 14 Wing DIAG the opportunity to give Juliusson’s turtle design a new purpose.
“We had this beautiful design that Captain Juliusson had come up with, and we didn’t want it to go to waste, so we hummed and hawed about making some stickers to promote the DIAG as an entity, so more people could know about it, and know they can get involved and become a part of it,” Master Corporal Nicholas Whaley, DIAG military co-chair, says. “We really wanted to get that symbol out because it is very obvious what it represents – and then we came up with the idea for the coin.”
With Juliusson’s turtle lovingly placed in the centre, the military and civilian co-chairs worked diligently with the entire DIAG team and the artist to create the design now featured in the coin. While the turtle does represent Turtle Island, Whaley explains Juliusson’s choice to feature the animal means so much more to the team.
“I was really excited because, in reference to the DIAG, our original patch has seven feathers for the seven sacred teachings, and one of the seven sacred teachings is Truth, which is represented by the turtle. Truth and Time. The turtle is one of the oldest animals on the planet, and it has largely stayed unchanged, which means it is true to itself. This is important for us, because it has adapted to change without necessarily changing – something Indigenous culture has tried to do.
“The turtle is also slow, methodical, grounded and has attention to detail, which I believe is important for an advisory group. It represents how we try to advise the wing on Indigenous matters.”
The design details embody the collaborative spirit with which the DIAG aspires to educate the wider community on Indigenous matters. The turtle’s shell is represented by the medicine wheel, a symbol of knowledge and interconnectedness. While the wheel’s centre is often depicted with green, to represent balance and community, the team opted to feature the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) roundel, to symbolize the balance the DIAG strives to achieve within the RCAF. The green has been reserved for the head and limbs, demonstrating the collaborative efforts of all Indigenous peoples represented by the infinity symbol, Inukshuk and feather; and initiatives, such as the Red Dress Campaign and the No More Stolen Sisters Campaign, that bring balance through connection and the sharing of knowledge. The circumference is orange in recognition of the Every Child Matters Campaign.
The DIAG coin will serve as a tool for promotion, education and raising of awareness here at 14 Wing Greenwood.
“It will be something to have on display somewhere, or to be presented, so that people go, ‘Hey, what’s that?’ It will engage people into asking questions so that we can create these conversations organically: we can have open discussions about Indigenous cultures on the wing.”
While the community will have the opportunity to initiate those conversations during activities taking place at 14 Wing May 17 to 24, as part of Indigenous Awareness Week, Whaley encourages anyone interested in getting involved in the DIAG, or learning more about the programs available, to reach out to the team. All members of the defence community are welcome to join the DIAG at its meetings, every second Tuesday at 1 p.m., in the Annapolis Mess’ Tow Bar.
