James Smith Elder helps Indigenous people honour their heritage by making ribbon skirts
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Elder and residential school survivor Grace Aisaican of James Smith Cree Nation has been helping Indigenous people honour their heritage by making ribbon skirts.
Aisaican has been teaching ribbon skirt making classes every second week since this past fall at the Marguerite Riel Centre in Melfort. The classes have been held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which is enough time to finish a skirt.
“Ribbon skirts mean a lot to our people,” Aisaican said. “It’s a part of who we are. The ribbon skirts that we make are a traditional piece of clothing for many First Nations women and girls. It empowers them to be proud and not afraid. It represents prayer. You wear them at ceremonies, powwows and round dances. Some people are wearing them every day now.”