05/05/2026
Today, May 5, is Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people.
This is a day to remember those who should still be here, and to honour and recognize the families and communities who continue to carry that loss. Indigenous women and girls make up a small percentage of the population in Canada, yet in 2014 they accounted for nearly a quarter of female homicide victims. This reflects ongoing systemic failures that continue to impact Indigenous people.
The red dress, brought forward through the work of Métis artist Jaime Black, has become a symbol of those who are missing and those who were taken.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report, Reclaiming Power and Place, https://lnkd.in/gqfr27q, in 2019. That report included 231 Calls for Justice directed to governments, institutions, service providers, industries, and all Canadians. These Calls are not suggestions; they are legal imperatives rooted in human rights, Indigenous rights, and the lived truths of families, survivors, Knowledge Keepers, and communities. In 2024, the Assembly of First Nations reported that only two of the Calls impacting First Nations had been fully implemented.
Red Dress Day is not only about awareness. It is a reminder of the work that remains. You can take part today by wearing red, attending a local community event, creating space for conversation, or taking time to learn about the Calls for Justice and reflect on what meaningful action looks like in your own role.
