Red Dress Day is observed on May 5 each year to raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Plus People in Canada.
Also known as National Day of Awareness, it will be solemnly observed in several ways across the NWT, with a major march through the streets of the capital to take place on Monday from Noon to 3 p.m. starting at the NWT Legislative Assembly Building.
On Saturday in Behchokǫ̀ from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Tłı̨chǫ Christian Church will be Red Shirt Pin Making and at the same time Sunday, Red Shirt Tie Dye Making will take place.
Then on Monday, there will be a Community Walk starting at the Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School at 10 a.m.
At the NWT Legislative Assembly, there will be the online launch Sunday of a video of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Monument unveiling from last October.
The 2.5-minute video provides a firsthand look at the unveiling ceremony, featuring quotes from the artist, elders, and speeches delivered on the annual National Day of Action.
A fire will be lit at the monument site on Sunday through Friday for those wishing to honour their loved ones and pay their respects from 9 a.m. to noon each day.
It was also announced today that Canada and Manitoba are partnering to launch an alert system that would inform the public when an Indigenous woman or girl goes missing.
The Canadian Press reported the Manitoba pilot is to be designed with and led by Indigenous Peoples, and is expected to help inform an eventual national alert system.
Minister Caroline Wawzonek in past years has hung a red dress on her porch to recognize MMIWG. (Photo courtesy of Caroline Wawzonek.)
