Elizabeth's Studio - Kokum Scarf by In-House Studio Ukrainian Artist (Babushka)
100% Cotton
Soft Hand Feel
45" Wide
15 Yard Put-Up
One symbol of the Cree's friendship with Ukrainians is brightly covered scarves, called "babushkas", embroidered with ornate flowers. Ukrainian immigrants shared them with the Cree, who call them "kokum", a Cree word for "grandmother." The scarves have been popular for generations of Indigenous people in Canada and the United States, particularly among elders, who often wear them for community gatherings. Ukrainian and First Nations women came together through scarves. With Russia's assault on Ukraine, the kokum has become a symbol of solidarity on social media, as Indigenous people in the United States and Canada snap selfies in scarves with messages in support of the resistance.