The Watson Art Centre will host a Ribbon Skirt Workshop on January 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Johnston & Company Auditorium. The event, organized by the Dauphin & District Allied Arts Council (DDAAC), offers a hands-on session in ribbon skirt design, sewing and cultural history.
Participants will learn to select fabric and attach ribbons. Workshops of this type are typically led by a guest Indigenous artisan or Elder; the event’s instructor is to be confirmed by organisers. Materials (fabric and ribbon) are commonly provided for ribbon-skirt workshops, but participants should confirm the final materials list with the Watson Art Centre when registering. Registration is available via the Watson Art Centre’s SimpleTix page.
The workshop arrives about two weeks after National Ribbon Skirt Day (Jan. 4). National Ribbon Skirt Day was first celebrated in 2023; Manitoba later referenced the day in provincial legislation through The Matriarch Circle Act (Bill 44). Ribbon skirts have become symbols of Indigenous identity and resilience. “It’s an acknowledgement to the Indigenous [people] that ribbon skirts and that part of that culture is okay… It’s helping to build and mend relationships,” said Diane Martineau (CBC News).
Housed in a former 1905 town hall, the Watson Art Centre is a Provincial Heritage Site. The building was slated for demolition in the early 1970s but was saved by the Dauphin & District Allied Arts Council and community members; it now serves as a hub for local arts and culture. The workshop aligns with the centre’s stated goal of supporting reconciliation through the arts.
For registration and event details, see the Watson Art Centre’s SimpleTix page.
