Learning the art of ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts

Havre Public School students had the opportunity to learn about - and make - some traditional Native American clothing last week at Havre High School.

Local designer, artisan and fashion show coordinator Rebekah Jarvey of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation held a class at the high school's food and consumer science classroom last Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Havre Public Schools Indian Education for All Coordinator Jessica Kennedy-Stiffarm said the students from the high school and middle school were invited to come to the class, with a parent or guardian. The class saw nine parents and 13 students attend, with 20 skirts and two ribbon shirts made.

Before the class started Wednesday, Jarvey talked about ribbon skirts and how much the item means to her.

Jarvey, a Chippewa, Cree and Blackfeet who is enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and has won awards including best new exhibitor at the Made in Montana trade show, honorable mention at the Native American art show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at Southwestern Association for Indian Arts and was featured in the October issue of Vogue with her son, Royce, as one of the 15 Indigenous Artists to Know from this year's Santa Fe Indian Market.

Rebekah Jarvey is a fourth-generation beader and sewer and is carrying on the tradition by teaching Royce, who is fifth-generation. She said in her bio that she mixes her traditional tribal heritage with street style to create contemporary authentic masks and ribbon skirts, adding that her take on it is "our identity needs to be celebrated from our way of life, languages, songs, dances, ceremonies, stories, hunting, gathering and cooking, and sense of humor. We can turn anything into something beautiful."

At the class, she referenced Secretery of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary, wearing a ribbon skirt at her swearing in and how inspirational it was to see Haaland's pride in her culture.

During her swearing in, Haaland said, "The ribbon skirt today reminds me that I have a power and that I carry a responsibility, to teach the future generations that they belong here and that they have the right to take up space however they choose."

Last week, all students measured, cut, pieced together and sewed their own ribbon skirts - a very intricate and time-consuming task, Kennedy-Stiffarm said.

She also thanked Havre High teacher Marit Ita for the use of her classroom and help in the project.