Red Dress Day Events Spotlight Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Multiple events are taking place across Saskatchewan to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Regina and Saskatoon have already commenced activities, including a Red Dress Day installation and an awareness walk.
Samantha Racette, Indigenous community development coordinator at Four Directions Community Health Centre, emphasized the significance of remembering missing and murdered Indigenous women as numbers continue to rise. The center, along with several partners, organized the Red Dress Day walk in Regina, focusing on community support and collective healing.
Izzy Sunshine, who attended the walk at the mâmawêyatitân centre, shared her aunt’s near encounter with danger. Sunshine highlighted the ongoing safety concerns Indigenous women face and the importance of acknowledging their vulnerability.
In Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Police Service held a Calling Home Ceremony, featuring a pipe ceremony and gathering to honor MMIWG2S (MMIWG and two-spirit) individuals. The University of Saskatchewan’s Campus Bowl hosted a Red Dress Day installation, which included hands-on activities such as creating red dress pins.
Sunday marks the official Red Dress Day, with both Regina and Saskatoon hosting various events. The RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina will host a beading session, a film screening, and offer access to the Place of Reflection for remembrance. In Saskatoon, the Wanuskewin Heritage Centre will host a beading workshop, while Remai Modern will screen a film and organize an awareness walk.
These events serve as a reminder of the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, while also providing a platform for raising awareness, supporting healing, and advocating for action to address this critical issue.
