Dialogues for Promoting Indigenous Spirituality and Culture
Trailing Ribbons
In the last decade, there has been a surge in Indigenous Peoples’ desire to reconnect with traditional practices and cultural expression through hands-on activities.
The Catholic Church shares this drive to revitalize a culture that has historically been oppressed under systemic institutions. Creating safe spaces to teach traditional skills and bring Indigenous Peoples of all ages together is key to achieving this shared goal.
Back by popular demand, the ‘Ribbon Shirts, Ribbon Skirts, and Accessories’ workshop is returning to the community for a third year. Riding on the success of the previous two sessions, the program will stick to its foundations by educating participants on how to create ceremonial ribbon skirts and shirts. This year, new elements will be introduced such as shoulder bags, drum bags and feather cases. More than accessories, these traditional items are integral in carrying sacred items to ceremonies. The growth of the program reflects Indigenous Peoples’ desire to reconnect with their identity and learn traditional skills in an authentic, hands-on way.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is lending its own building to this cause to help heal the divide between local Indigenous communities and the Catholic Church in the region. Though it will take many acts of tangible reconciliation to heal historic wrongs, ‘Ribbon Shirts, Ribbon Skirts, and Accessories’ is a great step towards renewing the connection between these two groups in the shared spirit of celebrating Indigenous culture.
Diocese of Thunder Bay
