Red Dress Day: Honouring the Lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Every year on May 5th, red dresses say in the wind across Canada- hanging from trees, draped on fences, and displayed in windows. They serve as a silence yet powerful reminder of the thousands of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) whose voices have been silenced. It is a day not only by grief and remembrance, but also by resilience, love, and the call for justice.
The Meaning of the red dress
Red dresses have become a powerful symbol. This visual began with The REDress Project, an art installation created by Metis artist Jamie Black. The colour red was chosen intentionally. In many Indigenous cultures, red is believed to be the only colour spirts can see. It calls them back and acknowledges their presence.
The red dress has become a symbol of both strength and sadness. The vivid colour demands visibility and attention, disrupting the silence and complacency that often surrounds this crisis, allowing for the voice of people who have felt so vulnerable for so long.
Holding Space, With Care
Red Dress Day is not simply a day of mourning- it is a day of respect. It asks us to hold space for grief, but also for solidarity and truth. For many, this day can be deeply personal, and it is important to approach it with humility and care. Listen without judgement, acknowledging past and present injustices, and be open to difficult conversations are all meaningful ways to honour on not only this day but every day.
While the pain of loss is carried most heavily by Indigenous families and communities, the responsibility to address and end this violence belongs to all of us. Red Dress Day is not only about remembrance. It is about justice, accountability, and the collective work needed to create a safer, more equitable future. Let us carry these stories forward with care. Let us remember the lives that have been lost, honour the strength of those who continue to fight for justice, and commit ourselves to meaningful action.
May the red dresses remind us not only of who is missing, but of the love, dignity, and humanity that endures.
