A bright blue skirt with printed loons in an Indigenous style with red, yellow, black and white stripes running parallel to the hem — that’s the ribbon skirt Vicki MacDonald decided to wear for Canada’s first National Ribbon Skirt Day on Wednesday.
She said that people just come in to tell us how beautiful they see ourselves, which was very encouraging because it is nice to hear positives instead of being negative.
The shelter is a non-profit and offers food, shelter, and clean clothing. It is located at the corner of Atwater Avenue & Ste-Catherine Street. Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal established the day shelter in 2019 to help the homeless people in Cabot Square.
National Ribbon Skirt Day was inspired by Isabella Kulak, originally from Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, who was mocked for wearing her ribbon skirt to school more than two years ago.
Many First Nations have a tradition of wearing the ribbon skirt. For First Nations women, the garment symbolizes strength, diversity, strength and strength. It is sacred because of the intricate work involved in making it.
These are worn by First Nations women during ceremonies and special events. They can also be worn every day.
Isabella wore a ribbon-skirt to a school formal in December 2020. Isabella was told by a school assistant that it was inappropriate and she should have worn something similar to others students.
National attention was given to the story and a federal bill was passed that recognized traditional clothing. Bill S-219 was royally approved and was passed by Parliament in December.
MacDonald was not shy about wearing one to work.
She said, “It’s nice to see some light being shed.”
MacDonald said her ribbon skirt was a gift from her mother. She stated that she is part the loon clan and hence the loon print. She said that the medicine wheel’s red, yellow, and black stripes are represented by the white stripes.
Maggie Chittspattio works at the shelter as well and wore a ribbon skirt for work.
He said, “The generation that is behind me has a voice.”
When she was young, she was taught to keep quiet — something that was passed down by her mother who was in a residential school, she explained.
Chittspattio stated, “I’m a second generation.” “I am learning a lot more about our ways as Indigenous people.”
She expressed pride in Kulak’s accomplishments.
Chittspattio said, “If she’s able to make it happen,”
Michelle O’Soup, a Resilience Montreal intervention worker, stated that Kulak is “a brave little girl, who stood up for Indigenous culture, and our traditions.”
She said that “that’s beautiful” and is proud of Canada’s National Ribbon Skirt Day. She stated that everyone loved the skirt at the shelter.
O’Soup stated that she wears a ribbon skirt for ceremonies and events such as graduation days.
She said that wearing the skirt on the newly created national day of recognition was a “proud feeling”.