01/04/2023
CANADA PASSES BILL DECLARING JANUARY 4TH "NATIONAL RIBBON SKIRT DAY"
On December 20, 2022, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller announced that Bill S-219, An Act Respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day, had received Royal Assent and was accepted as an Act of Parliament.
Canada’s press release stated, “Every year on January 4, National Ribbon Skirt Day will provide an opportunity for everyone in Canada to recognize, learn about, and celebrate the importance of Indigenous traditions and expressions of culture. The Ribbon Skirt is one such tradition.”
This Bill was passed thanks to the commitment and leadership of Isabella Kulak, her family, Chief George Cote of the Cote First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory in Saskatchewan, Senator Mary Jane McCallum, and Jenica Atwin, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, who began advocating for this day after Isabella was shamed for wearing her Ribbon Skirt to school.
“On National Ribbon Skirt Day, we can learn from Isabella’s experience. We can combat racism and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples by raising awareness of, and celebrating, Indigenous ways of knowing and being.”
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has always supported and encouraged the wearing of traditional clothes and will continue to do so. On January 4th, we will join other First Nations across the continent and proudly wear our traditional ribbon skirts, celebrating our beautiful culture and traditions.
Link to Canada's press release: https://www.canada.ca/.../bill-s-219-an-act-respecting-a...
CANADA PASSES BILL DECLARING JANUARY 4TH "NATIONAL RIBBON SKIRT DAY"
On December 20, 2022, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller announced that Bill S-219, An Act Respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day, had received Royal Assent and was accepted as an Act of Parliament.
Canada’s press release stated, “Every year on January 4, National Ribbon Skirt Day will provide an opportunity for everyone in Canada to recognize, learn about, and celebrate the importance of Indigenous traditions and expressions of culture. The Ribbon Skirt is one such tradition.”
This Bill was passed thanks to the commitment and leadership of Isabella Kulak, her family, Chief George Cote of the Cote First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory in Saskatchewan, Senator Mary Jane McCallum, and Jenica Atwin, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, who began advocating for this day after Isabella was shamed for wearing her Ribbon Skirt to school.
“On National Ribbon Skirt Day, we can learn from Isabella’s experience. We can combat racism and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples by raising awareness of, and celebrating, Indigenous ways of knowing and being.”
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has always supported and encouraged the wearing of traditional clothes and will continue to do so. On January 4th, we will join other First Nations across the continent and proudly wear our traditional ribbon skirts, celebrating our beautiful culture and traditions.
Link to Canada's press release: https://www.canada.ca/en/crown-indigenous-relations-northern-affairs/news/2022/12/bill-s-219-an-act-respecting-a-national-ribbon-skirt-day-receives-royal-assent.html
