Indigenous women filled social media with stories of strength and resilience from coast to coast while proudly donning their ribbon skirts on Wednesday, celebrating Canada’s first National Ribbon Skirt Day.
Women like Agnes Woodward (agneswoodward) posted on Instagram about her healing journey to overcome the shame she has carried since childhood. As a mother and a proud woman, she is letting go of the embarrassment she held onto about wearing ribbon skirts as a child in Saskatchewan.
Jaris Swidrovich (@JarisSwidrovich) told her personal story. Wearing her ribbon skirt reminds her of her mother, who has passed. She tweets, “... I can’t stop the tears from flowing. This day was the first time I really noticed my mom’s illness in her physical presentation. She was too ill to attend my sister’s ceremony but did anyway. We buried her in this skirt.”
And on Facebook, singer Fawn Wood says, “No matter where I go, or what kind of crowd I may be interacting with, I always choose to present myself in a ribbon skirt or dress. To me, it’s a beautiful symbol of our identity and strength.”
Some women, like Cheryl Whiskeyjack (@CherylWjack) from Edmonton — who wore her ribbon skirt when she accepted her honorary doctorate of laws degree — shared their victories.
And others, like Anika Guthrie (@AnikaCheyenne), stood a little taller that day. She tweeted, “Felt a little extra at work today. Extra connected to my culture and ancestors. Extra proud to be Anishnaabe and express my identity. Extra grateful for the next gen who share their stories & strength and demand change.”
Many people expressed their gratitude to Isabella Kulak, the young girl from Saskatchewan who insisted that the skirt was indeed formal wear. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement that her story “shone a light on the enduring injustices, racism and discrimination faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Canada every day…”
Sen. Yvonne Boyer shared a picture of her at home wearing her skirt, thanking Kulak for her bravery in speaking out and Sen. Mary Jane McCallum for Bill S-227.
Beyond Canada’s borders, women celebrated Ribbon Skirt Day. Rachel Evangelisto, Miss Minnesota 2022, posted that one of her favourite moments at the Miss America competition was her opportunity to wear her ribbon skirt. She posts on Facebook, “Ribbon skirts aren't just a piece of clothing; they are a sacred connection to our communities and ancestors. I wore this skirt with honour and immense pride in the hopes that others would see it and feel like they could be up on that stage someday.”
A beautiful compilation of social media posts featuring women from all over wearing their ribbon skirts can be seen on the yogibearthesewist TikTok page.
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