Red Dress Day

National Day of Remembrance for Missing, Murdered

Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S)

On this day, we pause, honor, and remember the lives of MMIWG2S. Their names, stories, and spirits remain with us as we continue to advocate for justice, safety, and change and we recognize the empowerment is inseparable from safety and dignity.

This day is meant not just to remember the lives of Indigenous women and girls lost to senseless violence, but also as a call to action for greater reform. Understanding MMIWG2S is not only about recognizing past injustices but committing to a future where Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit are safe, valued, and heard.

Métis artist Jaime Black helped inspire the red dress movement that unfolded through her art installation, where red dresses are hung from windows and trees to represent the pain and loss felt by loved ones and survivors.

This day is more personal for me it is a reminder that as an Indigenous woman and all the women in my family are 12x more likely to experience some sort of violence in our lifetime. This is my reality and the reality for my daughter and 6 granddaughters.

I wear red to honor my own community’s fight for answers in the missing case of Siksika member Desiree Oldwoman (20 years old) who is Autistic and went missing in August of 2011. Desiree has never been found and there has been little to no evidence of what happened to her.

It is hard to even think about the possible horror she has been through and how the strain of wondering and hoping she will be found one day has put on her family. Our community will never know exactly what happened to her but there is hope that one day we can bring her home and help her family heal.

It is these exact stories of missing loved ones that bring everyone together to honor and recognize this event.

I ask of all of you to wear red in honor of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, it is a common belief within Indigenous communities that red is the only color spirits can see.

As an act of remembrance, St. Mary’s will display hanging red dresses, host a Blackfoot prayer and smudge in the Medicine Garden at 11:15 am with Elder Wanda First Rider, followed by a moment of silence.

We will then be offering light snacks and drinks for everyone in attendance.