01/05/2024
National Ribbon Skirt Day is an opportunity to learn more about and to celebrate Indigenous cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions to Canada.
National Ribbon Skirt Day originates with the story of Isabella Kulak from the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan. Isabella was shamed for wearing her handmade ribbon skirt to a formal wear day at her elementary school.
Traditionally worn by First Nations and Métis peoples, ribbon skirts are a centuries-old symbol of identity, adaptation, and survival for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people, and represents a direct connection to Mother Earth.
Isabella’s story shone a light on the enduring injustices, racism, and discrimination faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, and importance of reconciliation in Canada.