MMIWG – May 5th, 2023

May 5th is recognized as Red Dress Day, also referred to as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and the Two-Spirited. This day aims to raise awareness and pay tribute to the many Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals who have been victims of disproportionate violence in Canada. The concept of Red Dress Day was sparked by Jaime Black, a Métis artist, who created the REDress Project exhibition. She displayed red dresses to signify the absence of missing and murdered women, and these red garments have since become emblematic of the crisis.

Our request to all schools affiliated with WVC is to show respect and recognition to the loved ones who have been lost. The statistics are alarming, as Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing violence than any other population in Canada – five times more, to be exact. Therefore, we urge our students and communities to take action, spread awareness, and contribute to bringing about positive change in this regard.

We are aware that various events, such as smudging, prayer, drumming, singing, poster-making, and a walk of remembrance, will be organized by communities to pay tribute to the lost ones.

We encourage students and staff to wear red, a ribbon skirt, or a traditional ribbon shirt as a symbol of solidarity and support on this day.

In addition, it is possible for anyone to contribute to raising awareness by showcasing a red dress outside, ensuring that it is visible and memorable to all.

Ekosani, chi-miigwech, thank you,

Staff and Students at WVC