REDress Day ceremony and poetry event

Monday, May 5 | 3pm

The public is invited to gather cedar with the Nelson Museum on Monday, May 5, in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Turtle Island, and of Jaime Black’s installation The REDress Project in the 2nd floor museum.

The event begins at the Museum, where we will gather last year’s cedar currently with the REDress Project. We then walk down to Cottonwood Falls for a cedar ceremony led by Lesley Garlow, and to collect new cedar for the installation. (We will have a few sets of clippers available but if you have a pair, please feel welcomed to bring your own.) Following the ceremony, we will walk back to the Museum to replenish the space.

At 5:30, poet Josephine Pakootas will be performing poetry* and presenting a slideshow of traditional tattooing in Gallery A. Josephine is a 19-year-old tattoo artist, traditional basket weaver, and activist from the Colville Tribe. Her work is rooted in cultural preservation, storytelling, and creating space for Native representation within the tattoo industry.

There will be a guided blackout poetry workshop in Gallery A, and refreshments will be available in the lobby. This event is FREE and open to the public; please be respectful.

*MATURE CONTENT WARNING: This performance includes references to violence, sexual violence, drug and alcohol use; it is not suitable for children or for some audiences. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

About Josephine

Josephine began traditional basket weaving at the age of 10, where she first found her voice through art. By 17, she had picked up her first tattoo machine and quickly became dedicated to offering culturally accurate, respectful tattoo work that honors Indigenous identity and resilience. Her art is a reflection of her commitment to healing, reclamation, and visibility for her people.

The path hasn’t always been easy—Josephine has broken generational cycles of addiction and alcohol abuse, and continues to stand strong in the face of ongoing issues like poverty and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Through her craft, she raises awareness, uplifts her community, and tells stories that deserve to be seen and heard.