Tania Cameron was watching the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine from her residence in Kenora, Ont., when she felt the necessity to specific her solidarity with Ukrainians on each side of the world.
"There are Ukrainian folks in our cities and cities which might be having a really exhausting time. They don't seem to be my folks, however we're linked, so I will stand with you," Cameron stated in a telephone interview.
"If it is one thing so simple as carrying a kokum scarf in solidarity, then that is what I will do. If there's any method I can help funds to assist the humanitarian assist, then that is what I will do."
Indigenous folks throughout Canada have been exhibiting their help of Ukraine by posting photographs and movies of themselves on social media carrying what is thought in lots of communities as "kokum scarves."
- WATCH: A million refugees in a single week
- Newest updates from Ukraine
- How may the warfare in Ukraine finish?
Cameron, who's Anishinaabe, noticed the social media marketing campaign and determined to hitch. She sourced the scarves from Indigenous and Ukrainian outlets and distributed them Canada-wide at value. She additionally held a raffle with proceeds going to the Crimson Cross.
One Ukrainian senior in Kenora came upon what Cameron was doing and requested if it was doable forCameron at hand ship some scarves.
The 2 spent a while sharing their histories over espresso.
"It was an emotional second once I was welcomed into her residence," stated Cameron.
"She gifted me her grandmother's scarf and gave me sunflower seeds as a strategy to thank me for my efforts."
The sunflower is the nationwide flower of Ukraine and has turn into a logo of peace and solidarity.
The sq. scarves are sometimes embroidered with shiny, floral patterns and have been used traditionally by kokums, the Cree time period for grandmother.
Oral historical past has recommended the scarves had been initially introduced over to Canada by girls from Ukraine and different Slavic nations within the early Nineties when the primary Ukrainian settlers got here to the nation. The scarves are recognized by varied names together with khustkas, hustkas or babushkas.
Tales of buying and selling between First Nations, Metis and Ukrainian girls had been handed down via households on all three sides.
Cameron remembers carrying a kokum as a baby.
"We'd put on them after we went blueberry selecting to attempt to hold the bugs out of our head and our ears ... within the bush within the summertime."
Cameron was shocked to be taught of the headwear's origins. She stated it is smart Anishinaabe and Cree girls would take pleasure in them as floral patterns are sometimes current of their paintings.
At present, the scarves are sometimes used as a vogue accent by Indigenous ladies and men. Powwow dancers incorporate them into their regalia.
Historically, Slavic girls would put on them after they had been married and afterwards, stated Ukrainian creator Marion Mutala. Girls would additionally put on them for defense whereas they labored outside and for various celebrations.
Mutala is the creator of a youngsters's collection known as "Baba's Babushka," which is predicated on her relationship along with her personal grandmother who died when she was 4.
About seven years after writing her first ebook, Mutala met an Indigenous man at a ebook honest who instructed her concerning the significance of the headscarf in Indigenous communities.
She determined to analysis the connection. Her ebook "Kohkum's Babushka" was launched in 2017.
"I seemed on the commonality of the connection between Indigenous folks and Ukrainians. The Metis folks have the fiddle and so do Ukrainians. We now have a whole lot of beadwork the identical and non secular life. There's a whole lot of similarities," she stated by telephone from her residence in Saskatoon.
Tamara Malcolm remembers utilizing the scarves as a teen when she danced at powwows. The Anishinaabe lady remembers her great-grandmother carrying one however, like Cameron, Malcolm did not turn into conscious of the historical past till not too long ago.
Malcolm owns a bead store on the Serpent River First Nation in northern Ontario.
"I've a kokum scarf hanging exterior my retailer to represent that I am in solidarity with Ukraine," she stated.
Malcolm began promoting the scarves a 12 months in the past, however the COVID-19 pandemic stopped massive gatherings like powwows, so the objects sat on her cabinets. Now she's determined to donate half the proceeds from every scarf to humanitarian efforts for Ukraine and stated she has bought almost 120 of them previously week. Solely a handful are left.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 5, 2022.
------
This story was produced with the monetary help of the Fb and Canadian Press Information Fellowship.
Post a Comment