National Ribbon Skirt Day will be celebrated Jan. 4 after a bill put forward by Senator Mary Jane McCallum received Royal Assent. • Ribbon skirts are traditionally worn in ceremonies and during special events by First Nations women and are representative of the person's identity. • McCallum was inspired to create the bill after a young Saskatchewan girl named Isabella Kulak was shamed for wearing a ribbon skirt during a formal school event in 2021. • Kulak was told by a teaching assistant that her skirt did not meet the requirements for 'formal wear,' sparking backlash against the school and an outpouring of support for Kulak. • Chief George Cote from Cote First Nation, where Kulak is from, says the recognition of the day makes him feel proud that Indigenous women have the day to "show who they are." • "There's so much racism out there and we should be proud of who we are," he said. • "In order to live in harmony we need to share our culture with one another so we can understand one another." • • • Reporting: Jennifer Francis/CBC Photo: Ben Nelms/CBC • #cbcindigenous