‘Ribbon Skirts Every Day’: The Importance And Power Behind The Indigenous Garment
06.06.2023 - 21:30
/ etcanada.com
Alyssia Sutherland was 14 years old when she was first introduced to ribbon skirts.
Her mother had just moved her kids about a two-hour drive south, from Peguis First Nation to Winnipeg, and she was feeling lost.
“It was a culture shock because a lot of people were teasing me because they said I have an accent. And I was like, “Okay, so is it bad to be Indigenous?” Sutherland told Global News.
“Eventually, I found an organization called Ka Ni Kanichihk and started going to their programs … that was the first time I (designed) my own ribbon skirt. It made me proud of who I was.”
Since then, ribbon skirts began playing a bigger role in Sutherland’s life. In 2018, she sewed her first one with help from her mother-in-law.
“She asked, ‘Ally, do you have a skirt for ceremonies?’ and I said no. And she’s like, ‘Well, let’s make you one then.'”
Ribbon skirts are a centuries-old Indigenous tradition historically reserved for ceremonies, and they can mean different things to different people and communities.
Considered sacred, ribbon skirts are a symbol of identity, resilience and survival often connecting the wearer to culture and kinship.
Sutherland now runs her own brand, Ally’s Ribbons, with a modern twist. She has made attire for the likes of Ashley Callingbull, Fawn Wood and Crystle Lightning.
“I want ribbon skirts not just for ceremonies. I want ribbon skirts every day,” she said.
“When people look at us, I want to be (seen) as Indigenous … it’s kind of like identity, empowerment, strength and knowing that I’m a warrior.”
The exact history and how-to of ribbon skirts is hard to pin down. Each community, and sometimes even each family passes down a history. For example, the Milwaukee Public Museum said ribbons used in