Greater Sudbury Police Service unveil new ribbon skirt
It was an emotional scene Monday morning at the Tom Davies Square courtyard as the Greater Sudbury Police Service unveiled its new ribbon skirt.
The skirt is now part of the service's No. 1 dress uniform for sworn members. It can be worn by Indigenous members and allies alike.
The day was marked by smudging, drumming and remarks from the city and Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre.
Mayor Paul Lefebvre said the city is one of the first in the country to make such a move and said it's one more stop towards reconciliation.
"It's emotional because it comes from the community,” Lefebvre said.
“The community (is) looking at this and saying how can we walk down that path together and it's coming up with these ideas and this idea here of being an inclusive workforce when it comes to the Greater Sudbury Police Service.”
It was also a moving moment for the woman who created the ribbon skirt, Robin Wemigwans.
It was an emotional scene Monday morning at the Tom Davies Square courtyard as the Greater Sudbury Police Service unveiled its new ribbon skirt. (Ian Campbell/CTV News)
Wemigwans said the skirt is a connection to the Earth for her. She's hopeful it will become a symbol of strength to show Indigenous women that the police stand with them.
"Well I've been working with the service for about 13, 14 years and it has been a dream since I started because I wanted to have that recognition for Indigenous females to be able to show that they are walking in two worlds,” she said.
“They are honouring themselves and honouring the work they do every day.”
It's just very welcoming that I'm able to express myself at work and to be able to honour my history," said Const. Katrina Pitawanakwat.
“It's just a very good feeling. I'm very proud.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.