Ribbon skirts connect Cape Breton chief to the strength of other Indigenous women – The Chronicle Herald

April 5, 2021

SYDNEY — The first female leader of We’koqma’q First Nation is looking forward to a time when COVID-19 restrictions are loosened and her community can come together again.

That’s when Annie Bernard-Daisley says she’ll wear one of the two ribbon skirts which she had recently custom made.

Ribbon skirts are traditional clothing that represent the sacredness of women in Indigenous cultures around North America. The colourful ribbons along the hemline and applique images are often symbolic and deeply personal for the wearer.

“Something about a ribbon skirt makes you feel empowered, and you’re not just wearing a skirt, you’re wearing your culture and your traditional beliefs and what we are as Mi’kmaq women. It’s an expression of our history, our resilience, and especially when it’s made for you about who you are and what you stand for, it just means more than anything,” said Bernard-Daisley, who was elected chief in October 2020.

Read More: https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/lifestyles/regional-lifestyles/ribbon-skirts-connect-cape-breton-chief-to-the-strength-of-other-indigenous-women-572248/