Thursday marks the second annual National Ribbon Skirt Day in Canada.
It is a day to encourage Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people to wear their traditional regalia.
National Ribbon Skirt Day commemorates the experience of Isabella Kulak, a member of Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan.
The 10-year-old was shamed for wearing a handmade ribbon skirt to a formal day at her elementary school.
“Isabella’s story – and the stories of so many others – reminds us of the ongoing challenges Indigenous Peoples face, including racism and inequity, and of the work we need to continue doing, together, on the shared path of reconciliation,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
“I invite all Canadians to learn more about Isabella’s story and Indigenous Peoples’ histories, cultures, and diversity … and to celebrate the ongoing contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to Canada.”
Parliament passed a bill in December 2022 to recognize Jan. 4 as National Ribbon Skirt Day.
