05/05/2026
Red Dress Day, observed annually on May 5 in Canada, is a national day of awareness and remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). Inspired by artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, it uses empty red dresses to symbolize lost lives and honor victims.
Key Aspects of Red Dress Day:Purpose: To call attention to the disproportionately high rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, and to demand action on this crisis.
Origin: Inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black’s art installation, which used red dresses to evoke a presence by marking absence.
Symbolism: Red is used because it is believed to be the only color spirits can see, helping to call lost spirits back to their loved ones.
Observances: People hang red dresses in trees, windows, or on doors, wear red shirts or pins, and participate in walks or community gatherings.
Impact: The day highlights systemic issues and the need for justice following the 2019 National Inquiry into MMIWG.
It is a time for reflection, education, and advocacy to end the ongoing violence and systemic discrimination against Indigenous communities.
