'A ribbon skirt to me is healing': Ribbon skirt workshop held in Guelph
Community, culture and tradition came together in Guelph as Indigenous community members created ribbon skirts.
Monday’s workshop was organized by the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) in celebration of International Women’s Day.
“A ribbon skirt to me is healing. I’ve been through a lot of trauma in my life, especially as a young child growing up and to me it’s very healing to make a ribbon skirt and to teach others how to make them,” said Juanita O’Neill who was teaching the workshop.
Participants picked out their own fabric and ribbons and personalized their skirts to represent particular colours, clans or causes.
“It gives them that empowerment that they made it themselves. They chose their fabrics, their colours, that they learned a skill. They socialized in community and they're connected to the culture and tradition. This is a culture and traditional teaching,” said Kellie Grace, the traditional healing liaison with SOAHAC.
Organizers said they hope the workshop fosters a sense of belonging and identity for those in the Indigenous community.
This is the first time the group has held the event in the Guelph-Wellington area.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.