05/05/2026
May 5, 2026 is the National Day of Awareness and Remembrance for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S), also known as “Red Dress Day,” originally created by Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette. This visual project was created to “draw attention to the gendered and racialized nature of violent crimes against Aboriginal women and to evoke a presence through the marking of absence.” (Jaime Black-Morsette)
Today is a day of remembering, learning, grieving, and building awareness. We hang red dresses to remember those who do not come home.
According to the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to be murdered or to go missing than members of any other demographic group in Canada.
Additionally, more than six in ten (63%) Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. These disproportionately high rates of violence are far-reaching. The effects on health and wellness include inequitable access and treatment in health care and underrepresentation in health research. (Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research). We must do better.
If you're looking for a local space to honour and remember missing and murdered relations, join Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre tonight for a community dinner, sacred fire, and song. 6-8pm | 580 Cameron Street, Peterborough. Everyone is welcome.
