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

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. 

Links: 

• APTN News (Tina House) YOUTUBE.COM 
• Ballet Vancouver (balletvancouver.com) @balletvancouver (Instagram) X: @balletvan TIK TOK - @balletVancouver 
• Yolonda's website (gorgeous photos and design details) Yolonda Skelton on Instagram
• CBC: Urban Regalia Fashion Exhibit Inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Indigenous Culture (Jean Paetkau-CBC Mews Oct 10, 2019

My Style For 5 Nights at Vancouver Fashion Week, April 8-12, 2026

Dressing for Vancouver Fashion Week is an important celebration of the event and of the Designers who "make it so". Most regular attendees create, post, share ads and plan their 'looks' well in advance of opening night. We really appreciate the Designer Profiles, Schedules, and Ticket information, in addition to the ongoing social media by Vancouver Fashion Week, too. It takes a whole community to get the community, ready, right! Day 1, I chose to wear green because it represents renewal, fresh beginnings and environmental consciousness. After the dark days of Winter, Spring brings new growth, sunshine and almost the beginning of Summer. There are more events and clothing is much more visible. So the Fashion Collections began with local Designer Richard Wei, whose styles range from casual to couture, and really emphasize that it is time to shed the puffy coats, jeans and runners. Time to dress for that interview or that grand ball. Hypnotique Sense by Reuju Sato is all the way from Japan and features natural textiles - old to new - recycling and upcycling and natural dyes, like rust and charcoal. My wrap is by Eco Designer/Art Wendy Van Riesen and Haida Artist Reg Davidson, and is from the RAVENS EAGLES POLKA DOTS Collection of sustainable clothing for women, "...using reclaimed materials and methods that are easy on the earth". Ay Lelum is created by the Good family, that includes Artists, Designers, Musicians, and Writers, in Nanaimo, B.C. The clothes are sustainably made and manufactured here. My outfit honors highlights local and international Designers coming to show their work in Vancouver. 

Day 2, I do my best to say hello to Japanese Designers, by wearing a Kimono, jewelry, bag, all pieces that I have handy for the Spring Sakura Fest, here but also wear often because they bring attention to local Japanese Designers and Japanese Fashion and Culture, a big part of Vancouver. Because on Thurs. April. 9, Teori Kobo Oriiro showed her collection, featuring Saori weaving from her studio in Kyoto, and in solidarity with her no waste and "more freedom, more joy" philosophy, I wore a vintage Kimono, jade pearls, a handmade floral brooch by local Jewelry Artist Noriko Kobe www.dancingleaf.ca, and pants from Sasaki Art Gallery. Sugoi. It was a very busy evening, showcasing: VCC collections by 12 new Designers, for whom I made a reel on my instagram, in fact, you will find reels for all of the collections mentioned here. Dunne Cliff by Allison Dunne, is made by hand in studio and stocked at Front and Company on Main. Somaya Ahmadi in Vancouver, Bahare Karami, Thomas Clement, and Another Cyote, by Naomi Narcisse, are all about resilience, renewal, sustainable textiles, and everyone honors and celebrates Culture. 

Day 3 My colour for this outfit, was orange. It is my favourite colour and symbolizes energy, positivity and optimism. I wore a brilliant orange scarf by Wendy Van Riesen, an ECO Designer and Artist, in collaboration with Haida Artist Reg Davidson. The orange/red shirt and skirt are long time favs, worn many times at Vancouver Fashion Week, previously and being reused for current looks now. Shoes are red Kate Spade, likely to be worn and resoled often. So energy, postivity, optimism and transformation are all evident in these collections: Nathee Rav, CLDDMNTY is local, North Van and is a youthful streetwear debut collection, Ben Reitmeier is from New Denver, B.C. whose motto is: "You don't need permission to evolve, and you don't need a reason to change." Ricardo Pinto is from Brazil and upcycled jeans dazzled the runway, for sure. His motto: "There is only one planet." Lidia Chep (CHEP), Julia Van der Lei Italian-Braz is here from Milano, BLTAM ENTRE, features 4 Korean teens who design to send a "positive message to the world through Fashion". Sophia Chantal is a Greek American Designer from Athens and New York, who recycles and upcycles vintage embroidered pieces, Call and Response is a group of Designers, Musicans and Artists whose collection is dedicated to those who are "forever and always, personal and experimental, raw and refined". 

Day 4 Green is the colour again, but added to the wrap by and scarf by wendyvanriesen and Reg Davidson, are pants by sasakiartgallery.com green instead of black, this time.  

 Designers: Alex S.Yu, Manami Suzuki, Malaika Hamid, 

Hannah Kim, Ainsley McPherson, Bahar Kianpour, jii_okinawa, Jumper Zhang. 

Day 5 is the power colours red and black of my wrap: Raven, by @dahliadriveclothing and Haida Designer @davidson.reg. See more about the Day 5 Designers @vanfashionweek.com

It's been grand for 5 days! Looking forward to October and the next fabulousness!

April 8 with Marilyn Wilson and Andrew Jackson

April 9 in Komono

April 9 with Marilyn Wilson

April 10 with Marilyn Wilson 

April 11 with Marilyn Wilson and Andrew Jackson

April 12 with RAVEN!

Haha, History! Comedy at The Museum of Vancouver February 28, 2026

January and February are dark months, here and so to bring in the light and laughter, I went to the Museum of Vancouver to look for fun. I found it! Dynamic, hilarious, Host, Myles Anderson, and renowned Comedians, Charlie Demers, and Graham Clark were laughing and chatting with a sold out audience, even before the 6:30 start time. Please see more about them at Events & Programs - MOV at https://museumofvancouver.ca. You can hear, Myles, Charlie and Graham on The Debaters on CBC Radio, but do follow them to see their great variety of other comedic journeys and pursuits. Congratulations Museum of Vancouver for bringing comedic perspectives to your Vancouver History Collection. 

The trivia questions are fun to try, and, they do generate a lot of consultation and yes, more laughs as we remember our own history with the photos, ads and artifacts from the past. These two questions, "Do you need to pay for parking at the museum?" "Is this the Space Centre?" were unexpectedly funny to those of us who were wondering if we would need an answer key to answer any deep, historical queries. But I remember, as a teacher, being interviewed by students, whose first questions were often: "How old are you and how much money do you make?"  One of the first photos we were shown, is of a car in one of the bigger exhibits, showing it and neon parking signs and auto services. Question: What make is this one? The answer is actually in script on the hood: Fairlane (Ford). There were stories about who owned one, speed, muscle and performance. Next was a photo of two hippies and who were they? (go and see the exhibit to get the details)I think we all reflected back about the styles and the music and where we were during that time. There were several ads and we had to think about what product they were trying to sell. Life Buoy Rubbers (Overshoes), Pay to Look Well: Ted's Barber Shop, Hair Cuts, and more. We had to identify a hat (a bowler) and name a slippery con artist. Jeff "Soapy" Smith, who tried to sell soap with the promise that there was money hidden in the package. The revolver he had carried, was identified for its name and a prize given to a trivia expert who knew the difference between single and double action. I think I heard reference to Westerns of the time, but then we moved on to appliances, (the evolution of the micro wave oven) and food, (what's in the meat?) and stores. We talked a bit about Granville Street downtown and South Granville. Not all of the prizes were given out, so there are some left for your next laugh, March 28 and April 25. Tickets at www.showpass.com I enjoyed the jokes and laughs during the evening. Great to see that Charlie Demers has a new book out and that people were lining up for signed copies. Loved the MOCKTAILS Bar and meeting owner Angela Hansen and partner, Enrique, who took time to get a photo, and smiled.Thanks again Museum of Vancouver for the general admission passes on our chairs; we will be back, for sure!!!