Red Dress Day

Tuesday, May 5 is Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). Originating from Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, the day uses empty red dresses to symbolize the violence against Indigenous women, who face disproportionately high rates of violence in Canada. Red was chosen because it is believed to be the only color spirits can see, used to call back the spirits of lost loved ones, while also representing lifeblood and danger. May 5th was chosen to honor Hanna Harris, a young Montana woman murdered in 2013.