What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me: Deb Haaland's Historic Inauguration

by Alexis Bunten, Nicole Neidhardt (Illustrator)

Overview

This beautiful, informative, Indigenous picture book offers both an homage to Secretary Deb Haaland's achievements, and a celebration of urban Indigenous community through the eyes of a little girl. 

Pia rushes over to the Indigenous community center after school. It’s where she goes every day to play outside with friends and work on her homework. But today—March 18, 2021—is special: Auntie Autumn gathers all the children around their television to witness Secretary Deb Haaland in her ribbon skirt at the White House as she becomes the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. Pia and the other kids behold her Native pride on an international stage. Together with their parents and Elders, the children explore the values woven into their own regalia, land, community, and traditions, making precious memories on this day they won’t soon forget. 

A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Book of 2023
A Rise: A Feminist Book Project List Selection 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316430036
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/25/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	437,122
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alexis Bunten (Aleut/Yup’ik) has served as a manager, consultant, and applied researcher for Indigenous, social and environmental programming for over 15 years. She holds a BA in Art History from Dartmouth College and a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from UCLA. Alexis has published widely about Indigenous and environmental issues. She is the award-winning author of So, How Long Have You Been Native? and Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story​.
 
Nicole Neidhardt is Diné (Navajo) of the Kiiyaa'áanii Clan, and is originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has a BFA from the University of Victoria as well as an MFA at OCAD University in Toronto. Nicole’s Diné identity is the heart of her practice, which encompasses illustration, installation, murals, and Indigenous Futurisms.
 

Editorial Reviews

07/03/2023

A community event encompasses a celebration of tradition in this conversational picture book by Bunten, who is Aleut/Yup’ik. At the Native American Center where Pia does homework after school, “today is special”—the organization is throwing a party to celebrate the swearing-in ceremony of Deb Haaland (b. 1960) as secretary of the interior, the first Indigenous person to serve in this capacity. Community members, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, soon show up with dried buffalo, fry bread, and smoked salmon, as anticipatory prose describes food that “smells so good, it’s hard for Pia to wait.” Following the meal, the party’s attendees next craft regalia to honor Auntie Deb—notably ribbon skirts like the one Haaland wore to the ceremony. As kids and elders discuss ribbon shirts and skirts (“When you wear your regalia, you shine with all the strength of our mothers and grandmothers since time immemorial”), the back-and-forth answers Pia’s questions and results in a welcoming gift to a newcomer. Digital images from Diné illustrator Neidhardt weave portraiture and pattern. Back matter includes an author’s note. Ages 4–8. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me:
A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Best Book of the Year
A Rise: A Feminist Book Project List Selection

"Bunten (Aleut/Yup’ik) engages readers with lively language. Neidhardt’s (Diné) bold, realistic art radiates with strength, especially when Pia’s grandmother teaches her about the importance of regalia. A powerful story of intergenerational strength, womanhood, and Native pride."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This simple story . . . artfully folds in all kinds of cultural details about Indigenous ceremonies, customs, and beliefs. Filled with bright, full-page illustrations, this attractive publication celebrates multiple urban and intertribal Native American traditions."—Booklist, starred review

"Could be used in units on Indigenous history or during Women’s History Month. It would make a great companion to Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard and Sharice’s Big Voice by Sharice Davids. An accessible picture book about an important voice on the U.S. political scene."—SLJ

From the Publisher

09/29/2023

Gr 3 Up—The book opens as young Pia runs to the Native American Center because that is the day the first Native American congresswoman is to be inaugurated: Deb Haaland. The community comes together to celebrate, and with that creates "Regalia" skirts, or ribbon skirts, which honor women from generation to generation. Within the story, readers learn what each color means and how the skirts are made. Vivid digital illustrations bring to life the colors on the ribbon skirts. This book could be used in units on Indigenous history or during Women's History Month. It would make a great companion to Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard and Sharice's Big Voice by Sharice Davids. Back matter includes more information on ribbons skirts and Deb Haaland. VERDICT An accessible picture book about an important voice on the U.S. political scene.—Ruth Guerrier-Pierre

School Library Journal

★ 2023-07-13
Children gather to watch a historical event, the swearing in of the first Indigenous secretary of the Department of the Interior.

After school, young Pia, whose mother is Anishinaabe and whose father is Chamorro, runs to the Native American center, where Auntie Autumn greets her with “Hersha Tuhe,” Ramaytush Ohlone for greetings. Pia and other diverse kids watch on TV as Deb Haaland makes history. Pia notices that “Auntie Deb” is wearing a ribbon skirt, a ceremonial garment that celebrates Indigenous womanhood. That night, the kids and their families attend a celebration in honor of Secretary Haaland, where they make their own ribbon skirts. Bunten (Aleut/Yup’ik) engages readers with lively language (“a parade of beef stew, fry bread, dried buffalo”). Neidhardt’s (Diné) bold, realistic art radiates with strength, especially when Pia’s grandmother teaches her about the importance of regalia: “You shine with all the strength of our mothers and grandmothers since time immemorial.” Grandma adds that Auntie Deb wore the ribbon skirt for the ancestors and for “all the mothers, aunties, daughters, and grandmothers yet to be born—Native and non-Native,” and Pia realizes the power woven into each ribbon skirt. The colors of the ribbons symbolize connections to the natural world. References to rooreh salad and sage hint at an inclusion of various Indigenous cultures. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A powerful story of intergenerational strength, womanhood, and Native pride. (more information on Deb Haaland, the history and meaning of ribbon skirts, instructions on writing a letter to the government, author’s and illustrator’s notes, sources) (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews