RCMP ribbon skirt initiative continues to draw mixed reviews

The national police forceis expandingits ceremonial uniform dress code, adding ribbon skirts as an option forIndigenous women andtwo-spiritemployees. It's adecision that has been met with a range of public feedback, from enthusiasm to criticism.

The RCMPannounced the initiative on Wednesday with a photo featuring a headless Mountie wearing a ribbon skirt featuring the coloursyellow, red, blue and white meantto represent both the four directions and the RCMP colours.

The traditional skirts havedifferent meanings for each person who wears them, but for many, the skirt is a symbol of resilience.

Knowledge Keeper and residential school survivor Judy Pelly was moved to tears when she saw the news. In 2020, Pelly's granddaughter, Isabella Kulak, was shamed by a staff member at her school for wearing a ribbon skirt, an incident that garnered international attention.

WATCH | Mixed reaction to RCMP's ribbon skirt:

Appropriate or appropriation? Mixed reaction to RCMP ribbon skirt announcement

6 days ago

Duration 2:01

Theres mixed reaction to an announcement from the RCMP earlier this week about including Indigenous ribbon skirts in its optional ceremonial uniform. Some say it appropriates a skirt meant to symbolize resilience, while others say its an important step forward in reconciliation.

Pelly said the RCMP ribbon skirtis a positive step forward to celebrating Indigenous women and reconciliation.

"It's so heartwarming," said Pelly, an Anishinaabewomanfrom Cote First Nation.

"[Ribbon skirts] mean a lot to us. They're our connection to Mother Earth, our connection to being the foundation of our communities, and also women stepping up and being proud of who they are."

Others doubt theRCMP'sintentions are sincere.

"A lot of people out there are very upset because of the colonial history of the RCMP, what they've done to us as a people, and now here they are again, colonizing our identity, what we choose to wear,"said Jessica Gordon, who is the director of Indigenous relations and reconciliation for YWCA Canada anda member of the Pasqua First Nation.

Gordon said the RCMP is displaying the ribbon skirt initiativelike an act of reconciliation, but she feels it is performative.

"Throwing a few ribbons on a skirt it's not really getting to the root causes of colonialism and what they have to do to repair those relationships."

Uniform skirt lacks individuality, Gordon says

The RCMPsaid, in a written statement, that the ribbon skirtinitiative came from the Women's Indigenous Network, which isan employee-led, force-wide network for RCMP Indigenous women andtwo-spiritemployees.

But Gordon criticized the RCMP'sapproach to the uniform ribbon skirt, saying it lacks individuality and uniqueness.

"I think if [RCMP]want to show their Indigenous members that they want to hear them and they want to be able to show their pride and who they are as Indigenous people they should allow them to wear their own skirts made by themselves or their family members, something that means something to them," Gordon said.

She said this would respect the individualism, empowermentand uniqueness that is shown and felt through a ribbon skirt.

RCMP say the usage of the ribbon skirt went through broad internal and external consultations before thecommissioner "approved the addition of the RCMP ribbon skirt as an Indigenous cultural item of honour and distinction."

It noted the eagle feather, for First Nation members, and the Mtis sash, for Mtis members, are also approved Indigenous cultural items of honour and distinction.

The RCMP said some examples of occasions that members can wear an approved cultural item include: receiving an award,formal spiritual services, weddings,mess events, cadet troop graduations, formal dinners and ceremonies,school talks orpresentations, as well as media or community events.

As of May 2024, there were 311 Indigenous RCMPmembers who identified as women, non-binary or two-spirit. They will have the option of wearing the skirt at such events.

Building bridges important, says Pelly

Knowledge KeeperPelly acknowledgedthe dark role the RCMP played in colonization and residential schools, as well as ongoing issues of systemic racism anda distrust toward police stemming from intergenerational trauma.

But she believes the police force is taking steps toacknowledge these harms and make changes.

"None of us is responsible for what happened in that history. None of us alive were there, but we can do what we can to go forward," Pelly said.

"Now we're building bridges."

She said she's excited to see ribbon skirts more widely worn and respected.

"It's become quite a sense of pride for me. I wear ribbon skirts every day," Pelly said.

"It helps me ground me, and who I am and never to forget that we are here. We're Indigenous women. We're not going anywhere."