TNDC News

TNDC HONOURS RED DRESS DAY - NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED INDIEGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS AND 2S PEOPLE

May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit People (2SLGBTQI+), also known as Red Dress Day. 

This day serves as a powerful call to action and a solemn time of remembrance. People across the country will gather to raise awareness about this crisis. Indigenous women, girls, transgender, gender-diverse, and Two-Spirit people continue to go missing and are murdered at an alarming and disproportionate rate.

Across Canada, red dresses are displayed in trees, windows and public spaces, standing as haunting symbols of thousands of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who are missing or have been murdered. The empty dresses represent the absence of those who should still be with us — and the continued need for justice, reform and healing.

Red Dress Day was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black and her REDress Project, a striking public art installation of more than 600 crimson dresses. Her work gave visibility to the racialized and gendered violence faced by Indigenous women — and called on Canadians to acknowledge this national crisis. Black chose red because, in Indigenous teachings, red is the only colour spirits can see — a symbolic “calling back” of those lost.

This crisis is rooted in the ongoing impacts of colonialism, including the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools, the 60s scoop, and systemic discrimination. The effects are wide-reaching — impacting families, communities, health, safety and access to essential services.

In Canada, more than 63% of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual violence. Indigenous women are four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence. Indigenous women are twice as likely to experience violence from their current or former partner.

At TNDC, we honour the lives and legacies of all missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. The acronym 2SLGBTQI+ represents Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities. We remember their families and communities, and we join the call to create meaningful change.

We encourage all Canadians to learn more, speak out, and act. Read the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. Educate yourself on the history of Indigenous Peoples from Indigenous voices. Listen, uplift, and amplify those affected. https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report

To learn more about MMIWG2S+, visit the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s website www.safe-passage.ca.