Red Dress Day

Join us for service today as we mark May 5 Red Dress day in Canada, a day of remembrance for the 1200+ missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit individuals across the country.

A passionate invitation has come from Elder Nina at Wilmot Family Resource Centre. I quote “it would mean so much to indigenous people if the churches in Wilmot Twp would acknowledge Red Dress Day by hanging dresses at their places of worship.”

Beginning over 12 years ago, the initiative was born out of Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress art installation wherein hundreds of red dresses were displayed in public spaces to raise awareness for the missing women.

The colour red was chosen based on the traditional knowledge that it is the only colour spirits can see and it is used as a means of calling the spirits of these lost loved ones home. In line with Black’s vision, every year red dresses and ribbons are hung nationwide in remembrance of these women and to symbolize what has been declared an ongoing genocide.

To help make this happen our group (WEWG) purchased 22 red dresses from the local Thrift Store. We then invited an indigenous friend to smudge them. This is in keeping with and respecting indigenous protocol and culture. It is considered a form of purification. Each dress has a profile attached of a missing or murdered women, girl or 2 spirited person.

We see this as an important step in our relationships with Indigenous people in our community. It is a small gesture to show that we are interested in the truth telling stage that moves us closer to reconciliation.

For more information, contact ecumenicalworkinggroup@gmail.com.