Each year on May 5, communities across Canada observe Red Dress Day, a national day of remembrance and action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).
It’s a solemn occasion rooted in the call for justice, equity, and the right to live free from violence—something too often denied to Indigenous women and gender-diverse individuals.
The day was inspired by Jaime Black, a Métis artist whose installation, The REDress Project, used empty red dresses to symbolize the thousands of Indigenous women who have been taken or lost to violence. Hanging in public spaces, the dresses serve as haunting visual reminders of lives stolen and stories unheard.
Indigenous women are twice as likely to experience violence from a partner or ex-partner and four times more likely to be victims of violence compared to non-Indigenous women. Though they make up less than 5% of Canada’s female population, Indigenous women account for 24% of all female homicide victims, according to national reports. Between 1980 and 2012, the RCMP documented 1,181 cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls—many advocates believe the true number is significantly higher.
Red Dress Day is not just about mourning. It’s a call to action—a moment to acknowledge systemic racism, demand accountability, and amplify Indigenous voices leading the path to change.
In Dauphin, the Northwest Métis Council will host a Red Dress Day Walk in solidarity and remembrance. Participants are invited to gather at the southwest corner of Main Street & River Avenue, with the walk concluding at the Northwest Métis Council Office at 422 Main Street South. Meet at 3:30, and the walk begins at 3:40.
Everyone is encouraged to wear red, bring a water bottle, wear comfortable shoes, and most importantly, walk with purpose and heart. Your presence matters.
