In December 2020, Isabella wore her ribbon dress to a school in Kamsack, Sask region for an “official day”, but an education assistant was ashamed of her choice, and he thought her The clothes do not match and are not formal enough.

On January 4, after the holidays, Isabella returned to school, again wearing her skirt proudly.

This drew strong support from people all over the world, who posted photos of themselves wearing a ribbon skirt supporting Isabella. She was even endorsed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who called her “brave” at a press conference in January.

Isabella’s story also resonated with the inspector. Honey Dwyer, a 26-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is responsible for the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Settlement Service and a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Earlier this month, Isabella and her family met with Dwyer and two Kamsack RCMP officers because the 10-year-old girl was appointed to the Saskatchewan Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council honorary member.

Dwyer said: “She made other non-indigenous people notice what the ribbon dress represents, and we should be proud of that ribbon dress.”

Dwyer created an advisory committee of six indigenous women and two souls in 2019 as the police organization is working to achieve its reconciliation strategy. She said that this is the RCMP’s first and only Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Committee, and pointed out that she hopes to meet a national colleague one day.

Isabella received a RCMP ribbon dress made by Dwyer and a gift from Ottawa, including ribbons and blankets. She was also invited to attend the next meeting of the committee.

“When she opened that box, the excitement in her eyes was like, wow-because I don’t even know what’s in the box. So it’s fine,” Dwyer said.

The meeting was originally intended to include officials from Ottawa, but adjusted due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The latest in a series of achievements

Isabella described the meeting as a highlight of the past six months because the initial school incident triggered a wave of change.

During that time, she was nominated for the “Female Power Award” in the youth category, which recognizes the contribution of native women in Saskatchewan; appeared on the cover Kci-Niwesq, Magazine of the Canadian Indigenous Women’s Association; Senator Mary Jane McCallum introduced a bill in the Senate to designate January 4 as “National Ribbon Skirt Day.”

Isabella also received more than 20 dresses and some ribbons, although she still needs a sewing machine to make them into her own dresses.

Isabella’s mother Lana Kulak said: “Her story spread so widely that it touched my heart.”

Dwyer also asked Isabella to design a pin, which she would give to RCMP officers to wear. She said: “I want to use it as an educational tool for employees of the province and the RCMP, and share her story with them.”

Isabella said that this request made her “happy and excited.” She painted her mother, father and herself, and a ribbon dress.

The meaning behind the skirt

Many people still don’t know what the ribbon dress represents, Dwyer said, noting that she herself only learned about the dress after contacting her indigenous heritage about 10 years ago. Now, she says, she has committed to sharing her culture – and hopes to use Isabella’s story as a way to achieve this goal.

Traditionally, women and girls wear ribbon skirts at indigenous ceremonies, but these garments are also used to reflect support for the cause. The seams of the skirt contain power, sacredness and heritage.

Hand-made skirts were originally made of leather and decorated with hand-collected materials. However, because of the scarcity of animal skins due to colonialism, women adapted and used ribbons and fabrics obtained through trade with settlers.

In the 1800s, the Canadian government banned some Aboriginal ceremonies-and related clothing and ceremonial items under the so-called Potlatch Act. It was not until 1951 that the ceremony was legalized again.

‘Source of pride’

The knowledge custodian, member of the RCMP Indigenous Women’s Advisory Committee of Saskatchewan, and Isabella’s great aunt Judy Perry, explained that the ribbon skirt will not become sacred until it is blessed by the ceremony.

Pelly said she saw more people wearing their ribbon dresses than ever before, and pointed out that she felt they could be worn outside of ceremonies as a symbol of female identity and status.

“It has become a source of pride and resilience; being proud of being an indigenous woman,” she said.

“It’s heartwarming to see that people are not afraid. I think that with Isabella, she really opened her eyes. A catalyst for change.”

Four years ago, artist Rachel Manichoose of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation made her first ribbon dress. She said that the skirts and their rituals helped her in her personal recovery journey.

“When I do this, I must maintain a good mental state, a good mind, a good body-just like every aspect of myself. I treat it as a ritual myself. I take it as a sacred The art form comes to share my healing with other people, but most importantly, with myself and the creator,” Manichoose said.

She said she was proud to wear skirts in public, treating them as if they were alive.

“I treat them like they have spirits. They hold drugs. This is a way for me to connect with Mother Earth. This is a way for me to connect with my natives. This is how I respect that part of me finally I got it, and finally revealed it.”

‘Going in the right direction’

Although the RCMP is considering developing an ethnic ribbon skirt for its members, Dwyer said that during cultural ceremonies, police officers will be allowed to wear their own skirts outside their uniforms.

She said adding traditional skirts to the uniforms of the Mounted Police is not a quick process because it needs to be consistent.

“I can’t say,’Yes, it will happen.’ But I am optimistic that we are there in the right direction,” Dwyer said.

“It recognizes our status as indigenous people in this organization,” she added. “It is accepting us and that part of our culture. It is accepting all of us-the culture that accompanies it. We have accepted the braid, so what about the other parts of the ceremony?”

In a statement, the National Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that it is considering the use of ribbon skirts in the ceremonial uniforms of the Royal Mounted Police, but needs to negotiate with the Aboriginal members to provide recommendations on the appropriate use of the project.

Isabella’s father, Chris Kulak, said that if the RCMP officially recognizes the ribbon skirt, it will show that the organization is making great strides in change, especially considering Kamloops’ discoveries.

He said: “I think this shows that people recognize the suffering and systemic racism that already exists and will continue to exist.”