I'm pretty confused about how liquid treats hashes in a template.

liquid_hash_confusion.rb

# Controller (simplified):

def show
  vars = {}
  vars['status_dates'] = @system.get_statuses_by_date
  @template = Liquid::Template.parse(@system.theme.source)
  render :text => @template.render( vars )
end

# status_dates is a hash formatted like so:
# {date => {:level => 'good', :description => 'All good', :statuses => [status_object1, status_object2]}, date2 => {...}}

# Liquid Template (simplified):

{% for date, date_values in status_dates %}
  This is the date: {{date}}
  This is the level: {{date_values[:level]}}

  {% for status in date_values[:statuses] %}
    This is the status: {{status.description}}
  {% endfor %}
{% endfor %}

# This does not work at all.  I've tried many different variations and can't seem to figure it out. Any help?