Healing Ribbons, a nonprofit organization for women of different generations and tribes in Nebraska and Iowa, aims to help them heal emotionally through sewing.

The group has been in existence for almost three years and now has its very first executive director, Janelle Whipple.

Whipple said she is excited about the role and looking forward to continuing to expand Healing Ribbons’ impact.

“I think it’s a wonderful mission and a wonderful goal, and I can’t wait to see them build more partnerships, find more funders, find more people to work with, and then just get more attention and recognition,” she said.

Whipple added that she has some plans for expansion, including a community cultural garden and construction of a building. The group currently operates in several locations.

Whipple is a member of the Santee Sioux, Sicangu (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. She is passionate about traditional herbal medicine and wants to share this knowledge with Healing Ribbons and its participants.

“We are confident that Janelle’s leadership will greatly enhance our efforts to serve the Indigenous community and fulfill our mission,” said founder and president Tami Buffalohead-McGill in a statement. “We look forward to the impactful work we will accomplish together under her leadership.”

Whipple will officially begin her duties next week. One of her goals is to offer more regalia-making workshops for powwows across the state to further highlight and celebrate Indigenous culture.

“Healing Ribbons provides a safe place for people who want to learn,” Whipple said. “When I look at this, I always wanted to give back, you know, I’ve been so lucky, so how can I teach others how to learn their identity and feel good about it.”