Surrey Schools pays tribute to missing and murdered Indigenous people on May 5 for Red Dress Day
May 5 is Red Dress Day, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S) in Canada, and the district is honouring the memory of those who have been killed or gone missing across the country.
First held in 2010, the annual remembrance was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, an art installation of red dresses hanging in the wind to symbolize more than 1,000 Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered in Canada.
“Red Dress Day is an important annual remembrance, serving as both an opportunity to remember and honour Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people; learn about the day’s history; and for our district to further our work around truth and reconciliation,” said JB Mahli, Director of Instruction with Racial Equity. “We encourage all of our students and staff to bear witness and raise awareness of the day and to listen to their stories, and we strive to ensure that Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people feel safe in our schools and our communities.”
According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Indigenous women face disproportionately high rates of violence, with 63% having experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. The impact of such violence on health and wellness is further affected by inequitable access and treatment in healthcare, and underrepresentation in health research.
In May 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released Reclaiming Power and Place, a 1,200-page report that included more than 230 recommendations to address issues faced by Indigenous women and girls across the country.
Students are encouraged to mark the day by wearing red, hanging a red dress in their yard or window, or posting on social media with the hashtags #RedDressDay, #MMIWG, #MMIWG2S, #WhyWeWearRed and #NoMoreStolenSisters.
Red Dress Day can be triggering for those affected by loss. For immediate emotional assistance, call the government’s national, toll-free 24/7 crisis line 1-844-413-6649, or Crisis Services Canada at 9-8-8, or call the Indigenous-specific Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-242-3310 for crisis counselling, including in some Indigenous languages.
