Red Dress Day
May 5 - Red Dress Day throughout Turtle Island (Canada) - is a powerful day of remembrance and action dedicated to honouring the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S). Originating from Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project - an art installation featuring empty red dresses symbolizing the women who are no longer with us - this day has become a national call to confront the ongoing violence faced by Indigenous women, girls and two spirit people across the country.
The Red dress has become a visual representation of loss, resilience, and the urgent need for justice. It is a symbol that speaks to the deep personal and collective grief experienced by Indigenous communities, as well as to the broader societal failure to protect the rights and lives of Indigenous women, girls and two spirit people. These disappearances and murders are not isolated incidents -they are the result of systemic racism, colonial policies, and the continued marginalization of Indigenous peoples.
Commemorating Red Dress Day is vital to advancing human rights in Canada. It aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into MMIWG. These calls urge governments, institutions, and all Canadians to confront the root causes of this crisis and to work toward justice, safety, and equality.
May 5 is an opportunity for collective reflection and education. It compels us to listen to the voices of survivors, families, and Indigenous leaders, and to act in solidarity. Raising awareness helps foster accountability and pushes for meaningful change in policy, law enforcement, healthcare, and education. Red Dress Day reminds us that every life is sacred. By commemorating this day, we affirm our shared responsibility to uphold human rights, end gender-based violence, and work toward a Canada where all people are safe and respected.
The preceding is a statement from Joseph Fraser, Director & CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
Quick Facts
- Indigenous Women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than any other women in Canada.
- While Indigenous women and girls made up only 5% of Canada’s total female population according to the 2016 Census, they account for 23% of all women and girls murdered in Canada between 2014 and 2018.
Resources
- Moosehide Campaign
- White Ribbon Campaign
- How Red Dresses Became a Symbol for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
- Magit's Doll: Elder Magit Poulette shares a story with students at the We’koqom’a Mi’kmaw School in Cape Breton (YouTube)
- Video: The REDress Project, an art installation by artist Jaime Black
- MMIWG2S Their Voices Will Guide Us: Youth and Student Engagement Guide
- MMIWG2S Gallery of Artistic Expressions
- The Red Dress (film via National Film Board of Canada)
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Films and Documentaries
- Honour and Remember: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls
- Bringing a Human Rights Based Approach to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry
- Safe Passage Map
- MMIWG2S Wellness Tools