Marking 1st-ever national Ribbon Skirt Day in northern Ontario
Canadian Senator Mary Jane McCallum introduced a bill in March 2021 to have the day formally recognized.
At the time, she said she was inspired by 10-year-old Isabella Kulak. The young Saskatchewan girl had been shamed for wearing her ribbon skirt at school, just a few months earlier.
Bill S-219 received royal assent and passed in Parliament in December. National Ribbon Skirt Day will be held every Jan. 4.
In Indigenous culture, ribbon skirts can be worn in ceremonies or special events, but Lewis said they can also be worn every day. Each skirt is different and reflects the identity and personality of the owner.
Isabella Kulak, a member of the Cote First Nation, Sask., wears a skirt she made herself. In 2021, she was told her ribbon skirt was not dressy enough for a formal event at school, and shamed for wearing it. (Submitted by Lana Kulak)
hi this is your obligatory reminder from a Mi'kmaq-Saulteaux pal that:
1.) the ribbon skirt is a traditional ceremonial garment worn by many First Nations women to celebrate their connection to Mother Earth and reclaim their Indigenous identity from and in spite of colonization;
2.) the RCMP was literally founded as a colonial police force meant to drive Indigenous / First Nations peoples out of their territory to make way for settlers (see: the "starlight tours")
3.) racism towards indigenous people in Canada is still alive and well (the last residential school didn't close until 1996) and so the RCMP adopting ribbon skirts is not only incredibly tone deaf towards their own history and the role they played in wiping out Indigenous culture, but insulting to the practice of ribbon skirts and what they mean to many Indigenous people across the country
4.) when a government entity limits who can comment on their posts, that should tell you exactly where their priorities and intentions lie.
Another mutual's birthday. Sorry its late! This is @rukafais 's interpretation of their beloved blorbo, Kimmuriel Oblodra from the Drizzt novels. Do you think an ion stone might attract moths?