MGBHLM School staff showed their support to Isabella Kulak by wearing their ribbon skirts and shirts on Jan. 8. (Facebook)

By Angela Brown

Respecting Culture

Battlefords area grows support for ribbon skirt issue

Jan 11, 2021 | 5:56 PM

Mosquito, Grizzly Bears Head, Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) are showing their solidarity for a young girl who was told by a staff member at her school in eastern Saskatchewan that the hand-made skirt she wore in December was not appropriate for formal wear day, compared to another girl’s clothing.

Good Spirit School Division has since apologized to Isabella “Bella” Kulak’s family, and promised to further investigate the incident.

Similar to many other communities, MGBHLM First Nation wanted to show their support for the little girl, a Cote First Nation band member.

MGBHLM School’s staff wore their ribbon skirts and shirts Jan. 8 to support Kulak.

Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman and three female council members wore their ribbon skirts on Jan. 4 also in solidarity with the 10-year-old.

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From Mosquito, Grizzly Bears Head, Lean Man First Nation, left to right: Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman, and Councillors Deborah Stone, Laurie-Ann Moosomin, and Brenda Mosquito don their ribbon skirts. (Facebook)

Aguilar-Antiman said people from around the world are showing their support for Kulak.

“It’s really saddening to hear in 2020 the attitude that continues,” she said. “So I’m really proud of that little girl for speaking up, for sharing with her parents.”

Aguilar-Antiman said she is glad Good Spirit School Division is working with the family on a resolution, to promote healing on both sides.

She said there needs to be more awareness of the significance of the ribbon skirt in indigenous tradition.

“It’s definitely a part of ceremony. When a young girl or a woman wears a ribbon skirt, it’s very symbolic,” Aguilar-Antiman said.

Living Sky School Division is strongly supportive of indigenous values and culture, and hopes to continue to provide education on the issue.

Indigenous Learning Consultant Sherron Burns said she would like to see more people learn about the ribbon skirt tradition.

“I think this is a teachable moment, where we can come together and learn some more,” she said. “Just today I have been gathering stories from lots of different women who are sharing their personal teachings around ribbon skirts, what it means to them and why they wear them. So I think those are some places we might move with our schools and students – trying to create that awareness, and building understanding about our cultural diversity, and respect for one another.”

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Executive announced they are calling on all school boards and divisions across Canada to participate in a Ribbon Skirt Day challenge, to honour all women and girls, and bring awareness to the important teachings and meanings behind the First Nations tradition of making and wearing ribbon skirts.

“We are a proud people full of culture, traditions, prayers and ceremony. We encourage all school staff, teachers and students to participate and use this as a learning opportunity in and out of the classroom,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said in a statement.

“Our rich cultural history and traditional teachings are sometimes expressed through our clothing items and regalia, and for many in our communities ribbon skirts and shirts are sacred gifts that are worn with pride as an expression of our identity and to honour those around us.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW