In Indian Country, people are wearing Kokum scarves for solidarity with Ukraine

Brandi Morin lives outside of Edmonton, Alberta, and she says near her Cree Nation, there’s a large Ukrainian population.

“My heart was going through turmoil for what’s going on,” Morin says.

She says it wasn’t that long ago when indigenous people had invaders at their doorstep. And they too, had to flee their land with their children.

“I just wanted to express that I’m with them in my spirit and in my heart,” Morin says. “That I care. That I love them. And that we’re thankful for them. We’re thankful for their friendships that we have with them and the relationships and the respect they’ve shown us over the years.”

Morin says the Ukrainian scarves have a name in Canada's Cree Country – kokum. It means grandma. But they come from many Slavic countries and go by many different names across the U.S.