Today is Red Dress Day. Also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+), it’s an important day to reflect, learn, and raise awareness about this ongoing crisis. It’s also a day to support Indigenous communities, and to honour the lives of those missing and murdered. 

Red Dress Day was inspired by Métis artist Jamie Black after she hung hundreds of empty red dresses in public places to represent missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It is said that the spirits that have passed see the colour red best; hanging a red dress helps the lost spirits find their way home.  

This violence is a direct result of colonization and racism. Lori Campbell, Associate Vice President of Indigenous Engagement at the University of Regina, said, “Indigenous people are sometimes thought of as less than and not as valuable as other women and girls, so people still to this day target Indigenous women because they think they won’t be missed.”

She also said, “The chances are if you know an Indigenous person, they’re related to someone who’s gone missing or murdered; that’s how common it is.” In Canada, more than six in 10 Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. 

Here are some ways you can show support on May 5:

• Wear red and encourage others to wear red dresses, pins or shirts
• Join memorial walks, community fires, and smudging ceremonies
• Learn more through the resources below

RESOURCES:

Native Women’s Association of Canada 

Ontario Native Women’s Association 

Amnesty International Action Guide  

CMHA Ontario News

Thank you to Kennedy Salloum for gathering these resources.