Why Ukrainian Floral Scarves
A message From our Spring 2021 box
Where I’m from, in Treaty 6 territory, Ukrainian floral scarves have become iconic among many Indigenous Nations. These days, you’ll even see these scarves integrated into pow wow regalia. Us nehiyawak (Cree people) call them “kokum scarves” because kokum means “your grandmother”, a reminder of our grandmothers and a symbol that we carry them with us, when we need them the most.
So, why the floral scarf? On the prairies, there is a vast history of trade and commerce between Indigenous Nations. But what people may not recognize is the history of trade and cooperation between the original peoples and settlers. In fact, the Ukrainian and Cree communities often worked closely together during times of major hardship and famine. Cooperation like this, between Indigenous Nations and newcomers, is a story that is found over and over again across Turtle Island. It was because of this trade, commerce, and cooperation that floral scarves became a symbol of the strength and hard work of our matriarchs.
Long ago, when Ukrainian people arrived in this territory, they brought with them beautiful floral patterned fabrics that were a natural compliment to the floral patterns found in Cree, Dene, and Metis beadwork. Our grandmothers adopted these patterns as they worked closely with their new neighbours to help each other. I guess that also explains why feasts in my community usually feature foods such as pierogies, and cabbage rolls, alongside our traditional foods.
So what does the floral scarf mean to me? When I was growing up, I often watched nohkum (my grandmother) with her hair tied up in a scarf picking berries, preparing meat, cooking for a feast or watching the grandkids. To me, “kokum scarves” are a symbol that embodies the intrepid and entrepreneurial spirit of my grandmothers: women who worked relentlessly to find opportunity, and to build relationships and cooperation among families and nations to ensure our survival. That’s what “kokum scarves” mean to me.
For me, the “kokum scarf” also represents a love for one another.
Until later,
Mallory
71 comments
I am also of Ukranian heritage on my mom’s side. We celebrated holidays together and maintained Ukranian customs and holiday celebrations. It was only natural to learn to make traditional foods! We watched our Baba and mothers prepare them and we learned along the way. So many traditions that were passed from generation to generation. My mom taught us how to create pysanky Easter eggs and we passed the skill onto others! Great memories always!
My Baba wore babushkas. She was from Czechoslovakia. My Polish Babka wore babushkas too. Maybe it’s an Eastern European custom for women.
Years ago I bought a Kokum scarf at a market and just put it away. After seeing a video on TikTok explaining the symbolism of the Kokum scarf. It hit me hard. Yesterday I took the scarf and wrapped it around my 96 year old mother’s neck and explain what was happening and why I wanted her to wear it. You see my moms a Latvian immigrant and she had to flee her country when the Russians stormed her country. She touched it with her hands and was silent.
Thank you
I am so glad I finally found some one that knows the history between the Ukrainian people and the indigenous people.
My Grandparents came to Canada in 1890. They were met at the train station and told to walk about 50 miles and they could homestead there. But they were told not to cross the fence. I gather that was one of our first reservations.
Needless to say neither group could speak the others language. One of my Aunt’s lived to 108 and that is where I heard the stories.
She said there were times there where be a horrible Blizzard outside and they would hear a knock on their door. When they opened it they would find a couple holding a new born child. Words weren’t needed . My Grandmother and my Aunt’s would set to work cleaning the mother and the baby while the men got the fire going and fixed a place for them to sleep. Don’t know where when my Grandparents had 10 kids and a 2 room shack. When they got up in the morning the couple would be gone. But a couple of days later there would be fresh meat outside their door.
There were also tales about how when someone was sick these people would bring different weeds over and show them how to prepare a form of tea to drink. I was fortunate to have my Grandmother live with us and still know certain weeds that could be used.
Now there is another similiarity to our dress. The outfits that you see Ukrainian dancers wear were not what these people wore. My Mothers skirt , as were the other women’s were one color – usually black but they had 3 colorful ribbons on the bottom.. Their dance outfits had more to do with their embroidered tops
I have many beautiful friends that are “Native” and have been stunned when they tell me some of their traditions. It seems the only good thing about this horrible war has been for our two nations to come together and remember our similarlies.
Thank you for your post.
Thank you for the reminder of the comfort our grandmothers can bring. Thanks, too, for highlighting the links to accessing that comfort, and our grandmothers, through things of beauty, like those vibrant Ukrainian silk scarves. More specifically, thank you for linking my thoughts to my own beloved Granny with this posting.
I shall forward this beautiful message to comfort a friend who is weeping for her sisters and brothers in Ukraine.
These scarves are also worn by indigenous women in San Bartolomé Quialana in Oaxaca, Mexico. I love reading all the stories here and learning of the meaningful cultural connections though wearable art and cultural expression.
