Vancouver Gitxsan Fashion Designer Yolonda Skelton (Jackson) Costumes a New Ballet with Joshua Beamish, Choreographer and Director of Ballet Vancouver April 23-25, 2026

I first saw Designer Yolonda Skelton (Jackson) at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFTO) 2018. The contemporary black, sleeveless dress with a White Killer Whale border around the hem, spoke to me about her mandate to show, through Fashion, the importance of "Animals, Plants and Elements and their connection to the land and its importance to our people". I also loved the cashmere, black and white, high collared short cape, with "ultrasuede applique: Eagle Meets the Ocean under Moonlit Sky". On her website, Yolanda has an extensive section: Indigenous Symbology and I learned that Killer Whales/Orca "...embody the values of cooperation and community and "they represent the connection between human and marine life, highlighting the importance of respecting and preserving the ocean's resources. The Eagle is "revered as a powerful symbol of strength, wisdom and freedom" and is a "messenger between the spirtual and physical worlds". The themes of relationships, connectedness and the power of story and cultural sharing through traditional and contemporary design are conveyed in all of Yolonda's pieces, on Indigenous Fashion Week stages, at the Leo Awards, on Theatre stages in the Movies and everywhere she goes.

Yolanda Skelton 2018 IFTO

In 2018, I heard Cris Derksen, Juno Award nominated Cree Cellist and Composer from Northern Alberta. Cris's music is also heard in the new ballet: WINTERBOURNE. Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week has already posted its theme: EARTH, and its dates: Nov. 18-22, 2026. Yolonda always designs a red dress for Red Dress Night, in which local and international Indigenous Designers "come together wearing red, in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous men, women, girls, two-spirit and LGBTQ members of our communities." See post I wrote for the event in 2024.

Yolonda also creates a runway collection and a marketplace booth for selling her gorgeous pieces. Before each VIFW, there is a fundraising auction and preview of the 4 days to come. Last time, Marilyn Wilson and I attended and met Yolonda. (photo) Marilyn's "Interview with Fashion Designer Yolonda Skelton (Jackson) of Sugiit Lukx Designs", can be found here.

One of Yolanda's latest stages is on the stage of The Playhouse, where she has designed costumes for a new company: Ballet Vancouver, and for a new ballet: WINTERBOURNE, in collaboration with Director/Choreographer Joshua Beamish. This had its World Premiere April 23-25, and was one of the 4 dynamic ballets performed in the AFTER THE RAIN & OTHER WORKS Program each night. I went on the 24th and was awed by skillful, athletic, fast moving, modern ballet, standout music, (Cris Derksen on Cello) terrific stage lighting, a quiet theatre (no cameras or phones) and then, this wonderful, "harmonious, thoughtful integration of indigenous design and ballet". This not only brings more ballet to Vancouver, with visiting dancers, and companies, but also brings Vancouver's local talent to the ballet and shares that with the world. There were 4 Indigenous dancers: Tristan Chad Ghost Keeper (Cree & Metis) Bryn Bridgen (K'omoks Nation) Keilani Elizabeth Rose (Lheidli T'emmeh Nation), and Jonatan Lujan. (Huarpes) I think that a new company, Ballet Vancouver, is new and exciting in so many ways. It highlights the city's rich cultural milieu, the abundance of local talent, the development of new ballets with new music, costume and yes, new ways of performing. And, what is local goes international, to the world stage.

Here are a few photos of Yolonda's costumes from WINTERBOURNE. The vintage blue leather coat features a killer whale and water and Yolonda says it was created to honor White Gladis, a pregnant Killer Whale hit by a boat. This caused trauma that resulted in the whale 'attacking' every boat. Ripples in the water echo the spreading effect of trauma to animals, people and the environment. Cris Kerksen's song about this further emphasizes the urgency for environmental protection, healing, and peaceful interaction, connectivity and the circle of life. You will notice that Yolonda and Joshua and so many others are wearing ties. They are her "Circle of Courage" ties reflecting people around the world and symbology: Killer Whale - belonging, inclusivity and connectedness, Raven - Mastery - reflecting curiousity, intelligence and determination, Eagle - Independence, Eagle eye, Wolf - leadership and taking care of each other. All 4 = balance, depends on belonging, mastery and independence and generosity= harmony. No balance = imbalance,which is what we have now and are working to change.they are made out of Merino wool, for its vibrational quality and connection to energy in the body. The ties can be worn and understood by everyone, bringing us together, as a whole.The red tutu is such a vibrant colour, and represents Phoenix, feathers falling, rising from the ashes. This tutu was created for Yolonda's red dress, worn for Red Dress Night at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. This is a memorial to the murdered and missing and a tribute to them and is at every Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. (Photo by Luka Cyprian)

Very new to me was watching with full attention, rather than with a camera. At the end of the ballet, I watched a standing ovation that began as one or two people and then spread like waves, row by row throughout the theatre. Bravo! Wish I had a video of that. While I wanted to write about the costumes, words are not enough and I thank Yolonda Skelton, Joshua Beamish, and Ballet Vancouver and Laura Murray (Murray Paterson Marketing) for photos and much more. The 26/27 season is coming right up Sept ll, 12 with Balanchine's Apollo, Black Swan Pas de Deux (Swan Lake) and Slice To Change. I am looking forward to going and writing more often. I sense there is room for conversation and new ideas. Have I written a ballet? No, but perhaps there should be one to celebrate Matriarchs, especially Sandra Moorhouse-Good, who leads the Good Family of Artists, Designers, and Musicians of Aylelum a multigenerational Design Family in Nanaimo. Ballet Vancouver is new and open to new ideas. There is room for all of us.

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