The result was an indigenous pattern on the left shoulder of every player which represents a meeting place. It will hit home for Nakiya when her father plays the didgeridoo and leads an acknowledgment before the Eagles play their first home game of the John I Dent Cup season on Saturday.
Nakiya is a previous Eagles women's captain after joining the club five years ago after falling in love with the physicality of rugby.
"[The jersey] is a great way to show Aboriginal heritage in our local sporting clubs, especially in Canberra. And it eliminates racism at our club straight away," she said.
"I still remember the racism at school and being stereotyped. But you don't see that at the Gungahlin Eagles. Racism just isn't tolerated at our club, for any culture, and that's what's so great about Gungahlin.
"We have an accepting club that accepts anyone from any background."
The Eagles' decision to connect with the indigenous community was prompted by a question from board member Zak Davies last year. He wanted to know what the club was doing to recognise indigenous culture.
The club made contact with Duncan Smith for help and instead of a one-off jersey, it was decided the indigenous link would be a season-long recognition.
"Being an Aboriginal, it's so good to see it on the jersey," said first-grade fullback Isaac Walker.
The Gungahlin Eagles will wear an indigenous design on the shoulder of their jerseys this year.
Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong
"It gives you that extra lift every time you pull the jersey on. It makes it that little bit more special to play for the club."
Goulburn junior Walker made his Gungahlin starting XV debut in round one last week, but was left heartbroken when he missed a tough kick from the sideline to win the game against Queanbeyan.
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He will be out for redemption when the Eagles clash against the Tuggeranong Vikings at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, with both teams chasing their first win of the season.
"Isaac has proven himself ready to be a first-grader. He's got huge amounts of talent, but it's untapped at the moment," said Eagles coach Dan Atkins.
"We had a chance to win it last week, but we shouldn't have left it so late. Tuggeranong are going to be tough and they've got class in the back line, but if you focus on that you forget about the power they've got in the forwards."
The battle between the Eagles and the Vikings doubles as a clash between some of Canberra's best young talent.
The Eagles will be steered around by Australian under-20s prospect Mack Hansen and fringe Brumby Issak Fines, while junior Wallaby Ryan Lonergan is the Vikings' scrumhalf and emerging duo Len Ikitau and Darcy Swain are also rising stars.
Nick Scrivener has taken the Vikings coaching reins this year after returning to Canberra following a stint in Japan.
"I think everyone's excited, it's going to be a good competition this year. It's going to be tight," Scrivener said.
"I'm not really concentrating too much on Gungahlin, we've got a lot of things to fix."
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND TWO
Saturday: Uni-Norths Owls v Queanbeyan Whites at ANU North, 3.05pm; Gungahlin Eagles v Tuggeranong Vikings at Gungahlin Enclosed, 3.15pm; Wests v Easts at Jamison Enclosed, 3.15pm. Royals – bye.
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Chris Dutton is a sports reporter at The Canberra Times.
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