Next Steps: Rebuilding Indigenous Law

Branding & Identity System

Photo credit: Geoff Howe

Context

Next Steps: Rebuilding Indigenous Law is an Indigenous-led initiative working with five Indigenous nations across Canada to renew and apply Indigenous legal orders. The initiative operates in partnership with the University of Victoria and the Indigenous Law Research Unit (ILRU), within a sensitive academic, legal, and cultural landscape.

A person dressed in traditional Indigenous attire performs a dance with a circular drum at a conference titled 'Next Steps Rebuilding Indigenous Law', standing in front of a backdrop and banner featuring a black with a red crest and the event's slogan.

Outcome

The final identity supports Next Steps’ work across academic, legal, and community-facing materials. It provides a clear, respectful visual foundation that reinforces credibility while leaving room for future growth and interpretation.

A woman with gray hair and glasses speaking into a microphone at a panel discussion, with two women seated beside her, backdrops with indigenous-themed logo reading "Next Steps" and "Rebuilding Indigenous Law"

Approach

The identity needed to communicate authority, care, and continuity—without relying on familiar or generalized Indigenous visual tropes. The logo was designed as a symbolic system grounded in story and meaning, capable of supporting long-term use across institutional and community contexts.

The mark brings together the kôhkom (grandmother) raven, and an open beak to represent intuition, knowledge-sharing, and action. Each element was developed with intention and restraint, allowing the identity to feel both grounded and contemporary.

A man wearing a Yak hat and a medal around his neck, smiling and celebrating on stage, with a background displaying the logo of a black bird.
An older woman with gray hair and glasses speaking at a podium decorated with fur, in front of two banners that read "NEXT STEPS REBUILDING INDIGENOUS LAW" and have a black bird with red markings.