Sunday, May 5 is Red Dress Day, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples (MMIWG2S+). It is a day to remember and honour missing and murdered relatives, and a call to action to increase awareness of the ongoing national crisis of violence toward Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit Peoples in Canada.
The Manitoba Legislative Building will be lit with a red dress projection beginning at sunset on May 5.
Significance of the red dress
Red Dress Day was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project installation, which was first exhibited at the University of Winnipeg in 2011. Black displayed the empty dresses to evoke the missing women who should be wearing them. Red dresses have since become symbolic of MMIWG2S+, and Red Dress Day is now an annual event to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit Peoples and bring awareness of the need for systemic change to end this national tragedy. The installation was also displayed at the Manitoba Legislative Building in 2011. Learn more about the REDress project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH7FuxzrFvs