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CBC
05-05-2025
- CBC
Here's how the 15th Red Dress Day is being marked in B.C.
Social Sharing Monday marks 15 years of Indigenous people and their allies gathering, marching and holding ceremony for the hundreds of Indigenous women and girls who are missing or have been murdered in Canada. The national day of awareness and remembrance, known as Red Dress Day, was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black after she created the REDress project — an art installation of red dresses hanging in public spaces that serve as a visual reminder of the Indigenous women and girls who are no longer with us. Since 2010, Indigenous people and allies have taken part in the project — hanging red dresses, creating artwork, and marching together to remember loved ones and call those who are missing back home. According to the Government of Canada, 63 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. In 2023, Statistics Canada released a report showing that Indigenous women and girls were six times more likely to be murdered than other groups of people in Canada. The federal government launched the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls (MMIWG) in 2016. In the final report released in 2019, 231 calls to action were made along with findings of genocide against Indigenous peoples in Canada. Amnesty International, an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, says Red Dress Day matters because it "makes the invisible visible." "Red Dress Day is a significant day," said Don Tom, chief of Tsartlip First Nation and vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC). "We must continue to bring awareness to ensure all Indigenous women are safe. It's a day to say we haven't forgotten the many women and girls whose lives have been taken too early. We demand justice and action on this day." On Monday, the UBCIC and non-profit Justice for Girls will be making an announcement about the deaths of Tatyanna Harrison, Chelsea Poorman and Noelle O'Soup, alongside their families. Harrison and Poorman were young Indigenous women, while O'Soup was an Indigenous teenager. Their bodies were found in Metro Vancouver within weeks of each other, in the spring of 2022. Investigations into how the Vancouver Police Department handled the three cases are underway. There are plenty of Red Dress Day events happening in B.C. this week. If you cannot make an event in person, wearing red is a sign of solidarity. Find your local event here. Abbotsford REDress Day & MMIWG2S+ awareness walk event When: Monday, 10 a.m. Where: 32203 South Fraser Way Chase MMIWG walk and barbecue When: Monday, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Where: 6443 Hillcrest Rd Clearwater MMIWG 5K walk or run When: Monday, 5 p.m. Where: 416 Eden Rd. Comox Valley MMIWG2S+ awareness walk & event When: Monday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Where: 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay Fort St. John Red Dress Day 2025 When: Monday, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Where: 9523 100 St. Golden MMIWG2S awareness and solidarity walk When: Monday, 9:30 a.m. Where: 611 10th Ave. North Hope Red Dress Day walk When: Monday, 10 a.m. Where: 6th Avenue Ball Park Kamloops Red Dress Day walk When: Monday, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Where: 707 Tranquille Rd. Red Dress Day event When: Monday, 11 a.m. Where: 357 Chief Alex Thomas Way Kelowna Red Dress Day walk When: Monday, 10:30 a.m. Where: 442 Leon Ave. Kitimat Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples awareness gathering When: Monday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Where: 606 Mountain Sq. Haisla Nation Red Dress Day walk When: Monday, 1 p.m. Where: 500 Gitxsan Ave. Lillooet MMIWG2S+ event When: Monday, 10 a.m. Where: 780 Main St. Lower Nicola Indian Band LNIB MMIW awareness walk When: Monday, 10:30 a.m. Where: Lower Nicola Band Hall New Westminster Red Dress Day reflection When: Monday, 3:15 p.m. - 7 p.m. Where: 620 8th St. Honouring MMIWG When: Monday, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Where: 796 Columbia St. North Okanagan North Okanagan Friendship Centre When: Monday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Where: 2904 29th Ave. North Vancouver Red Dress Day honouring ceremony When: Monday, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Where: 147 East 12th St. Pitt Meadows Red Dress Day ceremony 2025 When: Monday, 1:30 p.m. Where: 11985 Harris Rd. Penticton Red Dress Day When: Monday, 11 a.m. Where: 1099 Lakeshore Dr. West Prince Rupert Red Dress fashion event When: Monday, 3 p.m. Where: Civic Centre Auditorium Saulteau First Nations MMIWG awareness day When: Monday, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Where: Crowfeathers Seabird Island Band Red Dress gathering When: Monday, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Where: Band office gym Tsawwassen First Nation MMIWG2S 5K walk When: Monday, 10 a.m. Where: TFN Rec Centre, 1929 Tsawwassen Dr. Vancouver Dancing with Our Ancestors exhibit When: Monday, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (exhibit opening), & May 5-19 Where: UBC Robson Square Sun Room, 800 Robson St National Day of Awareness MMIW+ When: Monday, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Where: 1657 Charles St. Victoria Our Women are Sacred walk When: Monday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Where: 2 Hallowell Rd. Witset First Nation Red Dress Day 2025 When: Monday, 10:30 a.m. Where: Smithers RCMP station
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Time of India
Red Dress Day 2025: honoring missing and murdered indigenous women and girls
On May 5, 2025, Canadians nationwide will observe Red Dress Day, a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring and bringing awareness to the thousands of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women , Girls, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S+) individuals. This day is a reminder of the systemic violence faced by Indigenous communities. It also highlights the ongoing efforts toward reconciliation and justice. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Inside Operation Tupac: Pakistan's secret project to burn Kashmir Who is Asim Munir, the Zia-style general shaping Pakistan's faith-driven military revival 'Looking for partners, not preachers': India's strong message for EU amid LoC tensions The inception of Red Dress Day traces back to the REDress Project initiated by Métis artist Jaime Black in 2010. Through the powerful visual of empty red dresses displayed in public spaces, the project symbolizes the absence of Indigenous women and girls who have been victims of violence. The color red was chosen for its significance in many Indigenous cultures, representing both vitality, and the connection between the physical and spiritual realms. The significance of Red Dress Day in Canada Red Dress Day has evolved into a national movement, shedding light on the disproportionate rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Between 2009 and 2021, the homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls was six times higher than that of their non-Indigenous counterparts . This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for systemic change and the importance of public awareness campaigns like Red Dress Day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Has Honda Done It Again? The New Honda CR-V is Finally Here. TheDaddest Undo The day also aligns with the findings of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which released its final report in 2019. The report highlighted deep-rooted systemic issues, including colonialism, racism, and sexism, contributing to the violence faced by Indigenous communities. It issued 231 Calls for Justice, urging governments, institutions, and all Canadians to take concrete actions toward ending this national crisis . Community engagement and educational initiatives Across Canada, communities, organizations, and educational institutions participate in Red Dress Day through various events and initiatives. These include marches, art installations, educational workshops, and the prominent display of red dresses in public spaces. Such activities aim to foster understanding, remembrance, and a collective commitment to change. For instance, the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition invites community members to engage in commemorative activities, educational displays, and creative projects that promote healing and unity . Similarly, the University of Prince Edward Island hosts events to educate students and the public about the significance of Red Dress Day and the broader issues surrounding MMIWG2S+. Live Events Law firms like MLT Aikins also contribute by providing resources and readings about Red Dress Day and MMIWG2S+, emphasizing the role of legal institutions in supporting Indigenous communities and advancing reconciliation efforts.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton Native Women's Centre to mark Red Dress Day May 5
The Hamilton Native Women's Centre will hold a memorial ceremony to mark Red Dress Day on May 5. The event, from 10 a.m. to noon, is an opportunity to honour all missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit (MMIWG2S) people. It will take place at Honouring the Circle at 21 Rosedene Ave. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Red Dress Day is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People and was coined by Métis artist Jaime Black as 'an esthetic response to this critical national issue.' It was first held in 2010 and continues to be held annually. According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 63 per cent of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime and the impact of the disproportionately high rates of violence 'is felt in all areas of life.' To raise awareness and pay tribute to the day, people are encouraged to wear red, inform themselves about MMIWG2S and participate in community events commemorating the day.
Hamilton Spectator
25-04-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Peterborough Public Library to mark Red Dress Day with interactive community art installation
The Peterborough Public Library is hosting an interactive community art installation called 'The Red Dress' during the week leading up to and including the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S+), also known as Red Dress Day. The installation will be on display in the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space at the library's main branch at 345 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough beginning Monday (April 28) and continuing through Red Dress Day the following Monday. Community members are invited to participate in the installation by contributing red fabric, yarn, beading, or other textiles to help create a large, collective red dress. 'Our hope is really just that people take a moment to pause and reflect,' the library's community engagement assistant Désirée Kretschmar told kawarthaNOW. 'Every piece of fabric added to the dress represents a life, a voice, and a shared commitment to remembering. This isn't just about the past. The violence and loss continue today, and the conversation needs to keep going.' In Canada, more than six in 10 Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime, with some estimates suggesting that around 4,000 Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been murdered between 1956 and 2016. According to a 2015 report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the proportion of Indigenous women homicide victims has continued to increase since 1991 and, by 2014, was almost six times higher than the homicide rate of non-Indigenous women. First commemorated in 2010, Red Dress Day is meant to honour and bring awareness to the thousands of women, girls, and two-spirit people who have been subjected to disproportionate violence in Canada. It was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black's REDress Project installation, wherein she hung empty red dresses in representation of missing and murdered Indigenous women as 'an aesthetic response to this critical national issue.' The interactive community art installation at the library will begin at noon on Monday with an opening ceremony and smudge with drumming in the Legacy Space, and smudges will be held every morning at 10 a.m. until May 5. 'Whether someone adds to the dress, comes to a smudge, or just takes a quiet moment to be present, that's part of the message too,' Kretschmar said. 'These lives are not forgotten.' The Red Dress project has been developed in partnership with Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre. 'The Red Dress installation provides a visible, community-based way to honour those who have been lost, hold space for those who continue to seek justice, and foster meaningful awareness,' reads a media release from the library. 'The library invites everyone to visit the installation, take a moment to reflect, and add to the collective dress. Each piece of fabric represents a life, a voice, and a shared commitment to community care and remembrance.' The library's Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space was established in 2023 as part of an initiative by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, founded by late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie along with his brother Mike Downie and the family of Chanie Wenjack. Chanie was an Indigenous boy who had been taken away from his family home in Ogoki Post, located on the Marten Falls Reserve in northern Ontario, in 1963 and forced to live at a residential school in Kenora. In 1966, the 12-year-old boy died from exposure after he fled the school and attempted to walk the 600-kilometre journey back to his home. The Peterborough Public Library was the first public library to be recognized as a Legacy Space, which is intended to be a safe and welcoming place where conversations and education about Indigenous history and the collective journey towards reconciliation are encouraged and supported.
