Participants in the ribbok skirt making workshop. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

storytelling

Men create ribbon skirts as part of healing journey

Mar 31, 2025 | 2:27 PM

A group of men learned the power of healing through storytelling by participating in a two-day ribbon skirt making workshop over the weekend.

It was hosted by Men of the North and facilitated by Nancy La Fleur, who has been making ribbon skirts for several years. She explained the workshop began by learning about the importance of reconnecting to personal healing stories through storytelling methodologies, followed by the creation of ribbon skirts with the intention of healing.

“The men in the group chose a woman they wanted to honour through this process,” La Fleur said.

“This approach may have been unconventional. In fact, I have never heard of any workshop that gave space to men to honour women in such a way. I know this was a first for La Ronge and probably even Northern Saskatchewan.”

As healing practices grow in the community, she noted individuals need to be brave enough to step into safe spaces that encourage forms of healing. Men making ribbon skirts is one of these spaces.

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“It is easy to stand in front of an audience and speak about healing, but to live in its movement is powerful, and this is exactly what we did together,” La Fleur said.

“Although I facilitated the workshop, I was definitely healing as well. Growing up in a home where I witnessed and experienced my grandfather abusing our family left scars, and a process such as this gives me hope that men can change their behaviors and break away from patterns that hurt others.”

Storytelling can take many forms and can be intentional for helping and healing. La Fleur uses the creation of ribbon skirts as a teaching tool, and throughout the years, she has made more than 600, each with an original design and each carrying a piece of a story.

In doing so, she has been able to hold many fundraisers to help out local organizations through cash donations, skirt donations, and an annual scholarship. La Fleur said she has donated over $25,000 to more than 20 organizations, programs, and some individuals.

“My story [with] skirt making has evolved. I started with wanting a skirt to wear to my daughter’s wedding in Norway. I did not want to be just a Canadian tourist, but wanted to represent Indigenous people,” she added.

“The only way I thought I could do this was to wear an identifiable garment that stood out and proclaimed my Indigenous heritage.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com