Red Dress Day marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) in Canada. It is a day to honour the lives lost, stand in solidarity with families and communities, and raise awareness about the ongoing and disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.
Across Canada, Indigenous women are significantly overrepresented among missing and murdered persons. They are estimated to be 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than other women in the country. This reality reflects the ongoing impacts of colonialism, systemic racism, and gender-based violence.
Red Dress Day is inspired by the REDress Project created by Métis artist Jaime Black. Through this project, red dresses are displayed in public spaces as powerful visual reminders of those who are missing. The dresses symbolize both absence and presence, representing the lives that should still be here. The colour red is also believed, in some Indigenous cultures, to be the only colour spirits can see, calling back the spirits of those who have been lost.
This day invites all of us to reflect, learn, and take action. Honouring MMIWG2S means listening to Indigenous voices, supporting families and communities, and committing to meaningful change that ensures safety, dignity, and justice for all.
