Red Dress Day

Red Dress Day, observed on May 5th, honours the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+), and raises awareness of the ongoing impacts of colonial violence in Canada.

The day was inspired by the REDress Project, an art installation by Métis artist Jaime Black, where red dresses are displayed in public spaces to represent the absence of those who are missing or have been taken.

Red Dress Day is both a time of remembrance and a call to action, grounded in truth, visibility, and centering the voices of families and communities who continue to advocate for justice. It also offers a moment to reflect on the broader systems that shape safety, access, and trust, including within healthcare and the role we each play in contributing to respectful care and advancing Indigenous cultural safety within our health systems.

Ways to engage: Wear red, take time for reflection, read Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and consider participating in local events.

Please see the poster below and read the attached brochure for more information the Our Women are Sacred Walk (PDF).