Miywasin Moment: Ribbon skirts stitch together tradition and hope

By JoLynn Parenteau on February 17, 2022.

Youth and young adults gathered at Miywasin Friendship Centre on Saturday for a traditional ribbon skirt sewing workshop.--PHOTO BY JOLYNN PARENTEAU

On an otherwise quiet afternoon in downtown Medicine Hat, Miywasin Friendship Centre on Third Street was a hub of activity this past Saturday. A small number of youth and young adults gathered together to share a memorable experience.

Made possible by a recent grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta, seven new sewing machines and a serger were purchased to host ribbon skirt sewing workshops. Attendees received traditional teachings about the history of the ribbon skirt, a sacred clothing item that carries great weight in Indigenous culture.

Prior to European contact, Indigenous People handmade their clothing from animal hides, furs, and used natural dyes for decoration. With the introduction of trade goods from Europe, women’s skirts shifted to being made of cotton and ribbons. This new style of skirts carried on the historical teachings of the original hide skirts.

Miywasin youth development co-ordinator Carol Syrette explains that the silhouette of a skirt represents the outline of the tipi.

“It was women who cared for the home fire in the tipi. Skirts are traditionally long so as to touch Mother Earth. It has that spiritual connection,” explains Syrette.

With guidance from Syrette and Miywasin staff Chasity Cairns and Carlee EaglePlume, workshop participants each got to try their hand at using a sewing machine, many for the first time.

Sixth graders Katie, Lucious, Rava and Rosa, and eighth grader Keona all enjoyed the experience of making their first skirts. All agreed they looked forward to wearing their skirts at summer powwows and future Miywasin events.

Fabrics and ribbon colours are a personal choice for each individual. Rosa, 12, chose a geometric fabric and ribbons with blues, purples and white. Keona, 13, selected a fabric with a colourful feather pattern and added rainbow ribbons.

Eleven-year-old Katie found a floral fabric in her favourite colour, red.

“The flowers remind me of nature, so I chose brown and red ribbon to match,” she explained. “I’ve sewn many times before with my aunt, but this is my first time making my own ribbon skirt. I’m going to wear it in free time at my house.”

Rava, 11, added a galloping horse trim to a black dragonfly patterned fabric.

“It just suits me,” she quipped. “The dragonflies fabric stuck out to me, and I have a connection to horses.”

Lucious, 11, explained he enjoys being a part of the Miywasin Youth Program because of the knowledge he gains, and to make friends. Lucious chose a bold floral rainbow fabric.

“I added green and pink ribbons because they are my favourite colours. I like bright colours because I’m always happy, kind, and caring. When my friends are down I help them through their anxiety and depression.”

Rae-Ann Godfrey, Miywasin’s crisis intervention support worker, also joined the class. A member of the Miywasin Singers traditional drumming group, Godfrey has been borrowing a skirt from EaglePlume. Now she’ll have a skirt of her own for performances.

“It was absolutely amazing to discover the confidence I had in myself to create something so meaningful,” shared Godfrey. “Being there to watch the confidence unfold in the youth was extremely emotional for me. It was beautiful.”

Syrette says having a skirt of their own “is important so these youth can be proud of who they are, to not be ashamed to be Indigenous. Through this class we’re hoping to increase visibility, awareness and knowledge about ribbon skirts. We’re bringing back our culture and reclaiming our identity.”

Godfrey is grateful to have taken part in the workshop.

“I feel so privileged to have access to traditional teachings at the Miywasin Friendship Centre and to work among strong women who are doing an amazing job to ensure these teachings and traditions are not forgotten and lost.”

“When you are making your first ribbon skirt, you are forgiving your own mistakes,” Cairns told the class. “Be kind to yourself. You are wearing a work of art.”