Our Ribbon shirt workshop was so productive and wonderful! Ohketeau is thrilled to be offering these options for the coming Powwow season and beyond.

Paula Fontes-Paul
Born in 1960 and raised in Tennessee, the daughter of a Southern Mother and Mexican Father, Paula was schooled in the traditional “southern girl” skills – cooking, cleaning, crocheting and sewing – merged with Mexican culture. Thanks to the patience of her dear Mama, Paula was sewing her own clothes by age 11. She met her husband, Roger Paul from Motahkomikuk (Passamaquoddy Indian Township) 16+ years ago. What began as making a few ribbon shirts for Roger quickly turned into being contacted by friends and family of the local Maine tribes for custom pieces – including custom ribbons shirts for the 60+ Veterans of Matahkomiuk for their Veteran’s Memorial Dedication celebration in 2018. To date, Paula has sold her ribbon attire locally, all over the US and Canada (including a couple of celebrities) through her DamaMorena Etsy site. Paula believes that it is an honor to be able to use her skills to help folks enhance one small area of their Indigenous symbolism and pride.