RCMP ribbon skirts ‘disheartening’, ‘insulting’: Indigenous activists

Ribbon skirts are now being allowed as part of RCMP uniforms, but many Indigenous people are saying Mounties shouldn’t get to wear the sacred symbol.

“They have a long history of oppressive actions towards Indigenous people in Canada, including enforcing the residential school policies,” said activist and TikTok influencer Kairyn Potts.

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme announced that officers can now wear ribbon skirts when donning the red serge, saying it demonstrates the RCMP’s commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Officers have also been allowed to incorporate eagle feathers and the Métis sash into their uniforms.

Potts said it’s disheartening to see Canada donning important symbols of Indigenous communities, saying RCMP should be doing other things to improve relations with Indigenous communities.

“If that’s where your head is, then search the landfill,” he said. “Stop over incarcerating Indigenous people. Stop doing all of the things that you’re currently doing to treat Indigenous people like garbage.”

Potts made a TikTok about the ribbon skirt move by RCMP and said he has approximately 900 comments asking RCMP for “actionable change” instead of wearing the skirts.

He said more Indigenous people should have been consulted about the decision.

“I don’t know if I know any indigenous people who are ribbon skirt makers who would be like, yeah, let me make you whip you up a skirt for the uniform,” he said.

“Someone who doesn’t share the overwhelming consensus of being upset at this has spoken and given their brown stamp of approval, I feel like now it’s just happening and everyone’s upset about it and they’re like, well, you natives, you’re the ones who said that we were allowed to. So, you know, you made