May 5th is Red Dress Day: a National Day of Remembrance and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).
To commemorate Red Dress Day, the KHCC is participating in the REDress Project: a public art installation that displays red dresses in public spaces to raise awareness for MMIW. Originally created by Métis artist Jamie Black at the University of Winnipeg in 2011, variations of this installation led by Jamie Black, community groups, or individuals continue to raise awareness across Canada and the United States.
Each red dress on display is a visual reminder of the overwhelming number of women who are no longer with us.
In Canada, Indigenous women are four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence. Indigenous women make up 16% of all homicide victims and 11% of missing women; yet, Indigenous people make up only 4.3% of Canada’s population.
These statistics do not recognize the names or faces of these sisters, daughters, granddaughters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and friends who have experienced this profound victimization of enduring colonialism.
The King Heritage & Cultural Centre is participating in the REDress Project this year to educate King Township about MMIWG2S; and, in response to the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action and UNDRIP’s directives for Indigenous rights in Canada. We encourage all visitors to reflect on the reality of many Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited peoples in our communities and abroad.
This installation will be on display outside the King Heritage & Cultural Centre from May 1-15, 2025.
To learn more about the REDress Project visit: https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/
