Red Dress Day 2025: Honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People in Canada. Nationwide observance marks 15th anniversary of advocacy and remembrance.
Red Dress Day 2025: Honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual) People in Canada.
On May 5, 2025, communities across Canada will observe Red Dress Day, a national day of remembrance and action dedicated to the thousands of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals who have gone missing or been murdered.
Fifteen years ago, Jaime Black launched the REDress Project that initiated the movement which celebrates its anniversary this year.
They hang empty red dresses in public locations to represent both deceased Indigenous people and the continuous violence they experience in North America.
The annual observance of Red Dress Day helps individuals understand the complex root causes behind this country-wide tragedy.
Statistics provided by the Government of Canada reveal that Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people face a risk 12 times higher than non-Indigenous women for both disappearance and death.
After the National Inquiry issued its Final Report with 231 Calls for Justice in 2019 many families remain without answers and want accountability for the missing people.
Different events together with initiatives will take place nationwide to mark this day.
The Saskatchewan government initiated funding opportunities for entities which focus on enhancing Indigenous community awareness and safety.
The crisis gets ongoing attention through ceremonies along with victim memorial displays that are hosted by educational institutions which include the University of Waterloo.
The Canadian population marks this somber occasion together while promoting immediate action for Indigenous community violence prevention and backing advocacy organizations and families working for justice and change.
