May 5 is Red Dress Day

Red Dress Day, observed annually on May 5, is a National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit people (those who identify as having both a feminine and masculine spirit).

The first Red Dress Day, held in 2010, was inspired by a public art installation: red dresses were hung in a range of environments to bring attention to this issue.

To help raise awareness about MMIWG2S and demonstrate support, individuals and organizations are invited to take two actions:

1. Print and display a Red Dress Decal.
2. Register for the May 18th Creating Safe Spaces for IWG2S panel discussion on ways to make our community safer, more welcoming, and more inclusive.

There are also a variety of Red Dress activities taking place around the city this week.

IWG2S people face disproportionate violence, trauma, and exploitation. This isn’t an Indigenous issue; it’s a community issue. We have a collective responsibility for supporting IWG2S persons in reclaiming their power and place.