In unceded Treaty 6 territory, across so-called Saskatchewan and Alberta, Ukrainian floral scarves are everywhere. You’ll see them tied around kokums at powwows, draped across shoulders in the cold, and even stitched into regalia.
Among the Cree, they’re known as “kokum scarves.” The word kokum means “grandmother,” and that’s what these scarves represent... the warmth, love, and strength of the matriarchs who held everything together.
When Ukrainian settlers arrived in the late 1800s, long before Alberta became a province, they brought their floral-patterned fabrics with them. These bright prints mirrored the intricate floral motifs already found in Cree, Dene, and Métis beadwork. On the prairies, survival depended on cooperation, and there was plenty of it between Indigenous peoples and Ukrainian newcomers. During hard winters and food shortages, they traded food, seeds, and knowledge. Ukrainian families often shared bread and perogies, while Indigenous families taught them how to hunt, trap, and live with the land.
This is the real history of the prairies... one of mutual aid and community, not just struggle.
Over time, those floral scarves became more than just fabric. They became a shared symbol of resilience and love. In Treaty 6 communities today, it’s common to see perogies, cabbage rolls, bannock, and moose stew on the same feast table. Cultures intertwined, families helped each other survive, and the grandmothers led the way.
When I think of kokum scarves, I think of my own grandmother, her hair tied up while she picked berries or cooked for a feast. I’m from Treaty 7, not Treaty 6, but that image of the kokum scarf still hits home for me. It stands for the hardworking, entrepreneurial spirit of grandmothers... women who built bridges between peoples, built families, and made sure we never went hungry or unloved.
