May 5th: The National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirits (MMIWG2S)
Red Dress Day is to acknowledge and honour the over 4,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two spirits in Canada since 1980. Take pause today. Commemorate the many Indigenous women, girls, and two spirits that never returned home.
Violence against Indigenous women in Canada is not historic, it is the on-going reality of Indigenous communities. Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than any other women in Canada as reported in the National Inquiry into MMIWG (2019). And most of the Indigenous women who are murdered and missing are under the age of 35. Today, make space to learn more about MMIWG and to explore the many ways you can offer your support.
Red Dress Day was started by Métis artist Jaime Black. Hanging empty red dresses in public and private spaces, the art installation provides a visual of the ongoing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two spirits.
Want to act on Red Dress Day?
Learn more about it:
- National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- Native Women’s Association of Canada (MMIWG)
- Ontario Native Women’s Association
- The REDress Project
- CBC: The MMIWG Inquiry’s Calls for Justice
Participate:
- Attend MMWIG2S community events
- Hang a red dress
- Wear red in solidarity
- Support a MMWIG2S cause