A day to remember
May 5th marks Red Dress Day – a day of honouring and remembering the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. They have been subject to disproportionate gender-based and racialized violence in Canada. Red Dress Day has served as a reminder of this ongoing crisis since 2010, but also provides the opportunity to raise awareness, show solidarity, and support efforts and movements to end the violence, seek justice, and promote healing and systemic change.
Why a red dress?
Red Dress Day was originally initiated by Métis artist Jaime Black, who created the REDress Project in 2010. In this art installation, the artist hung red dresses in public spaces – from trees to lamp posts – and used them to represent the missing and murdered Indigenous people. This colour was chosen not only because it is striking and symbolizes both vitality and violence, but also because, as Black learned from an Indigenous friend, red is the only colour that spirits can see; it can thus be used to call back the spirits of the missing so they can reconnect with their loved ones. Since then, the REDress Project has been exhibited in Canadian universities, legislatures, and hospitals, and is now a permanent exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
As a result of Black’s work, red dresses have become symbolic of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ crisis and are frequently hung outside – on trees, houses or statues – to bring awareness. The project contributed to the popularity of red as a symbol of the MMIWG2S movement, and helps to provide the Canadian public with a better understanding of the crisis.
The project has provided the Canadian public with a better understanding of the crisis and spurred a growing MMIWG2S movement to pressure the federal government to launch a National Inquiry in 2015, with red emerging as a symbol of the MMIWG2S movement. The inquiry, involving testimonies from thousands of Indigenous people, led to the release of a final report in June 2019, which outlined 231 Calls for Justice to address, end, and redress the crisis.
What can you do on Red Dress Day?
To help mark this day, wear something red to express your solidarity with Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ victims, survivors and families. You may also hang a red dress in a visible public space, for example, at your house or workplace. Or you can attend a local solidarity initiative or community event.
Learn more about Red Dress Day and how you can participate. Some useful resources include: