National Ribbon Skirt Day

January 4th is National Ribbon Skirt Day here in Canada! National Ribbon Skirt Day commemorates the experience of 10-year-old Isabella Kulak, a member of Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan who was shamed for wearing a handmade ribbon skirt to a formal day at her elementary school in 2020. Isabella’s experience sparked nationwide support, drawing attention to the need for increased awareness and acceptance of Indigenous traditions, cultures, and ways of being.

Traditionally worn by many Indigenous groups during ceremonies or at special events, ribbon skirts are representative of strength, resiliency, and womanhood. Women, girls, and gender-diverse people also wear them to express pride and confidence in their Indigenous identity and heritage.

Learn more about National Ribbon Skirt Day below:

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xts589sKvqA

– https://ccdi.ca/blog/celebrating-national-ribbon-skirt-day/

– https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/…/N-16.2/FullText.html

[Photo source: Warren Kay, CBC News, 2023,”A rainbow row of ribbons sits on a table next to Terrence Gardner’s sewing machine. Gardner has been transforming materials like this into ribbon skirts for over a decade.”]