Hundreds of community members packed the Civic Centre in Prince Rupert on May 5 to honour the Red Dress Day and the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
The red dress, inspired by the work of Métis artist Jaime Black, has become a powerful national symbol of the loss experienced by the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and gender-diverse people. Red Dress Day serves as both a day of mourning honouring those taken too soon and a call to action, reinforcing the urgent need to end violence against Indigenous communities.
“Indigenous women and girls are more likely to be murdered, assaulted or go missing than any other women in the country. It’s crucial that we persist in addressing the underlying issues of violence, such as colonialism, racism and misogyny,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, in a May 5 press release.
The event in Prince Rupert featured a powerful red ribbon-skirts-themed fashion show celebrating the strength and resilience of over 35 women and two-spirit artists. Charles Hays Secondary School’s drumming group, Git Waas, “People of the Rain,” moved the audience with their fierce, soul-stirring rhythms.
The Gitmaxmak’ay Dance Group brought electrifying energy to the floor, captivating attendees with their performance. Various First Nations representatives shared heartfelt speeches and poems, amplifying the voices of those lost and calling attention to the ongoing crisis.
The affair also included blessings, traditional songs, and shared meals, making for an evening of congregation, healing, and remembrance.
The All Nations Lax Kxeen Society organized the occasion. The society is a grassroots coalition of Indigenous peoples across Northern B.C., including Cree, Ts’msyen, Nisga’a, Haida, Haisla, and others. They work together on shared community projects and events rooted in Indigenous knowledge, culture, and solidarity.
“We need to and we should be working together. We started a society to try to pull our community together to gather and enrich each other’s lives,” said Chantal Meggison, the society’s representative.
In addition, Terrace’s Tears to Hope Society, an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to supporting families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous loved ones, set up an awareness booth displaying sobering statistics about the ongoing crisis. Among the information displayed was: "Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women; over 1,500 cases have been documented across Canada; and four out of five Indigenous people in North America have experienced violence in their lifetime."
“Most of our cases sadly are not solved or investigated properly. So it is important that we hold events like this so we can continue to raise awareness,” said Lorna Brown, executive director of Tears to Hope. “When we come together as allies, we can make the future safe for our young ones.”
The gathering carried the weight of grief and remembrance but also lit a path forward: one of resilience, unity, and hope for safety and healing.
