The NAAW Logo

The National Addictions Awareness Week Logo was developed by Sean Dion (an Aboriginal youth from Edmonton) with the NAAW team.

The Circle and the number four are sacred symbols for Aboriginal people. Many aspects of their life and the world around them can be explained using the concept of the circle. The number four represents the four directions, four nations of peoples, four seasons and four phases of life. The circle represents unity, harmonious relationship with nature and with all living things who are our relatives and that all things are connected and equal because in a circle there is no beginning and no end. The circle teaches us that it is our responsibility to care of each other in a manner that allows us to walk our earth walk in emotional, spiritual, mental and physical balance.

The Four colors – yellow, red, black and white, represent the races of the world. The four colors used in this circle help us understand that addictions affect all nations, in all directions and at every level of human experience: individual, family, community, nation, and world.

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Footprints – It is difficult to walk the earth walk with care always looking to our futures in healing, positive and understanding ways. Therefore every step we take keeps us moving forward in a manner that gives us strength, power, courage, happiness, spirituality and freedom. Moving forward and walking the red road helps us to keep “Living the Good Life”. The footprints are a path towards mental, spiritual, emotional, physical balance and enlightenment.

The footprints also remind us of the teaching from an old prayer: “Creator – Grant that I may not criticize my neighbor, until I have walked a mile in his moccasins”

“Living the Good Life” – another way of referring to healing, or walking the red road on our healing journey. Living the good life is essential for balance and harmony. The four types of footprints illustrate the need to cultivate the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects for a person’s well being and complete development of an addiction free lifestyle.