Red Dress Day, observed annually on May 5, is a national day of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).
 
In Canada, Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately affected by violence and are tragically overrepresented among those who are missing or murdered. The homicide rate for Indigenous women is five times higher than that of non-Indigenous women.
 
To raise awareness of this ongoing injustice, Jaime Black, a Métis artist, launched The REDress Project in 2014. This installation art project involved collecting and hanging 600 red dresses, symbolizing the hundreds of Indigenous women and girls whose lives were stolen. These empty garments stand as powerful reminders of those lost and the urgent need for justice and systemic change.

UHEW stands in solidarity with Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit people, and their families who have been affected by this ongoing tragedy and trauma.
 

We encourage everyone to foster awareness through education and to take action in support of reconciliation. Please consider attending an event in your area on May 5 to show your support and help amplify the voices of those affected.

In Solidarity,
 
Sonya Driscoll
UHEW Human Rights Representative