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Red Dress Day

Honouring the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Overview

Red Dress Day honours the memories of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Canada. Métis artist Jaime Black helped inspire the red dress movement, where red dresses are hung from windows and trees to represent the pain and loss felt by loved ones and survivors.

History

Originally starting as the REDdress art installation, Red Dress Day became a grassroots movement across Canada. The project was made up of 600 community-donated red dresses, which were later placed in public spaces throughout Winnipeg and across Canada.

The artist chose the colour red after speaking with an Indigenous friend who told her that is the only colour spirits can see. Red dresses are used to call the spirits of missing and murdered women and girls back to their loved ones. The goal was to speak to the gendered and racialized nature of violent crimes against Indigenous women and to evoke a presence by marking absence.

Events

  • Athabasca

    Red Dress Day

    Date: May 3, 2024

    Time: 11:30 am

    Event location: Athabasca Native Friendship Centre (4919 53 Street)

    Description: Brian Cardinal will be drumming and singing in honour of missing and missing Indigenous women, girls, men and 2S+ people. Please wear red. Displays will be present. Free soup and bannock will be available. 

  • Calgary

    Alberta University of the Arts Red Dress Installation

    Date: May 1 to 4, 2024

    Time: 10 am to 3 pm

    Event location: Lodgepole Centre or Student Services Hub (1407 14 Ave NW, Calgary)

    Description: The public is invited to bring or donate red dresses for the red dress installation. If you would like your dress returned, please attach your name inside the dress.


    Alberta University of the Arts Teaching and Beading Workshop

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time: 1 to 2 pm

    Event location: Main campus entry (1407 14 Ave NW, Calgary)

    Description: Lucille Wright, a Siksika Nation member, community leader, entrepreneur and knowledge holder will pay respect to those who have experienced gender-based violence and reflect on its effects on the community. Lucille will work with participants to create a beaded red dress pin, sharing how beadwork can help with healing and addressing trauma.


    Calgary Public Library

    Date: April 24 to May 5, 2024

    Time: See Calgary Public Library hours of operation

    Event location: All Calgary Public Library locations

    Description: Calgary Public Libraries will display the designs of Livia Manywounds, a Blackfoot designer, artist, communications specialist, and owner and founder of Dancing Storm Designs. Her work has been featured at 2022 Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, 2023 Indigenous Fashion Week Vancouver and National Women's Show 2024.


    Indigenous Red Dress Day Walk ‘n’ Drum on the Hill – Jane’s Walk

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time: 11:45 am

    Event location: Blackfoot Confederacy Medicine Wheel at Nose Hill Park (Meet at 14th Street Nose Hill Parking Lot, East Side of Park, just north of Calgary Winter Club)

    Description: Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a drum (or borrow one on site) and walk to Nose Hill Park for a sharing circle. Medicine wheel teachings will be shared next to the Blackfoot Confederacy Medicine Wheel and an opportunity to make a tobacco offering will be available. Tobacco will be provided. 

    Please bring a hat to wear and water to drink for this 2-hour event.  Please note that this walk is weather dependent.  Children and well-behaved dogs are welcome.  There are no washroom facilities at this location. Participants are asked to meet at 11:45 am to walk to Nose Hill Park for noon.


    4th Annual Mohkinstis (Calgary) MMEIP Red Dress/Ribbon/Shirt Gathering

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time: 12 to 5 pm

    Event location: The Field of Ribbons (200 Memorial Drive NW)

    Description: This event will take place in the Field of Ribbons, a location chosen to reclaim the power and place of all families and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island. The event includes remarks from Mayor Jyoti Gondek, singing and drumming groups, Elders and jingle dancers. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs, wear t-shirts and share the stories of their loved ones.

  • Cochrane

    MMIWG2S+ Art Installation Project

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time: 1 pm

    Event location: Wazin Ichinabi Ti Society House of Oneness Society (521 1 St)

    Description: Wazin Ichinabi Ti House of Oneness and the Canadian Library are partnering to create an ongoing art installation that will raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Attend this event to cover one or more books in fabric and then place them on a bookshelf, which will be part of the art installation at the event location. Names of those who are missing and murdered will be embossed in gold on the spines of some of the books.

  • Edmonton

    Red Dress Day in Edmonton

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time: 

    • 8 am – Pipe Ceremony in Beaver Hills House Park (105 St and Jasper)
    • 11 am – Attendees gather at Churchill Square
    • Noon – Walk down Jasper Ave to Beaver Hills House Park

    Event location: Sir Winston Churchill Square (9930-102 Avenue NW) and Beaver Hills House Park (105 St and Jasper)

    Description: This event is being held to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, 2S+ people and men. Participants are encouraged to wear red.

  • Fort McMurray

    Red Dress Solidarity Walk & Memorial Round Dance

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time: 

    • 8 am – Pipe Ceremony
    • 10 am – Special remarks
    • 10:30 am – Solidarity walk
    • Noon – Community feast
    • 1 pm – Memorial Round Dance
    • 4 pm – Closing ceremony

    Event location: Kiyam Community Park (9909 Franklin Avenue)

    Description: Participants are invited to bring pictures of their loved ones to be honoured and remembered at the gathering.

  • Medicine Hat

    National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit Plus People

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time: 2 pm

    Event location: Medicine Hat College (299 College Dr SE)

    Description: The public is invited to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2S+ people, learn about the purpose of Red Dress Day and about our role as community members. This event includes an Indigenous prayer, awareness walk, a guest speaker and honour song. Please wear red, bring a lawn chair and hand drums if available.

  • Red Deer

    Red Dress Day Event

    Date: May 5, 2024

    Time:

    • 12 pm – hanging of red dresses
    • 1 pm – Welcome
    • 1:15 pm – Ceremony and presentation
    • 2:30 pm – A walk to remember MMIWG

    Event location: Red Deer City Hall Park

    Description: Please join this event to recognize and remember missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Contact

If you have a 2024 event you would like to highlight, please contact us at [email protected].