What is Red Dress Day? How MMIWG2S+ are Honoured on May 5, 2024


Red dress hanging from tree in honour of MMIWG2S+

Indigenous women make up 16% of all female homicide victims, and 11% of missing women. May 5 is Red Dress Day in Canada and the U.S., also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ (MMIWG2S). Started in 2010 by Métis artist Jaime Black, Red Dress Day is a movement to educate and raise awareness of the systemic injustices that contribute to violence against Indigenous women and girls. 

Why Do We Need Red Dress Day?

The sheer number of Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people who experience violence in Canada is staggering. 

How Red Dress Day Began

This day began as a response to more than 1,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada by artist Jaimie Black’s art installation, The REDress Project. It has come to represent MMIWG2S+ across Canada and the U.S. The red dresses are a visual reminder of all those who went missing and a play on words with “re-dress.)

MMIWG2S+ was the subject of a three-year National Inquiry, resulting in the 2019 report, Reclaiming Power and Place, and 231 Calls for Justice that outline the actions needed to halt and redress the devastating violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people.

“The legacies of residential schools, the 60s scoop and ongoing colonization including resource theft and socio-economic conditions like poverty, sexism, racism and discrimination often fall the hardest on women and gender-diverse people,” notes North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services.

Ways to Participate in Red Dress Day

  • Put up a display at your home or office. It may be as simple as hanging a red dress in your window or tree or creating cutouts of red dresses for your window.
  • Learn more about the issues. Check out our resource list below. 
  • Wear red on May 5th. Local groups or Nations may be selling painted or beaded pins which also helps to support local Indigenous artists.
  • Hold a session at your local organization or CRN. Invite a local Elder or Indigenous person to speak about the issue.
  • Don’t stop learning and speaking out. Become an ally in the fight for justice for MMIWG2S+ in Canada. Download the Indigenous Ally Toolkit from Treaty 7 which has valuable information and is a great place to start.

Resources on MMIWG2S+ for Red Dress Day 2024 and Every Day

To help you recognize MMIWG 2024, BC CRN has collected information and resources to share with your networks.

 

Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources. 

 

 

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