Today is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples, also known as Red Dress Day. The name comes from the REDress project created by Métis artist Jamie Black in 2010. As part of an art installation, Jamie hung hundreds of empty red dresses in public spaces to remind people of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women and girls lost to gender-based violence.
"Redress” means to remedy or set right. The REDdress project is a call to action. Though these conversations can be challenging with learners, it’s important to make them aware of this ongoing issue and discuss how they can take action.
May 5th is #RedDressDay, a day to drive home awareness and action on the ongoing tragedy of #MMIWG2S. If you are unfamiliar with this read the AFN and the Inuit National Action Plans for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit.
Today is Red Dress Day, in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous people. In Canada, Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people are six times more likely to be murdered than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
“However, nearly four years after the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and two years following the release of the National Action Plan, only two of the 231 Calls for Justice have been implemented, while an implementation timeline has yet to be released.”
#Indigenous women experience violence at disproportionate rates, which has deep effects on Indigenous communities.
I want to honour young Indigenous lives that have been taken too soon; this evening I hold their families in my thoughts, I encourage #Canadians to do the same.
Please educate yourself on the issue and advocate for Indigenous women,
girls and two-spirit people.
May 5th is #RedDressDay in remembrance of our stolen sisters and survivors. Please, in remembrance hang a red dress, or wear red. Thank you for your participation...