In honour of Red Dress Day, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+), Aura Freedom participated in two powerful community gatherings to honour the lives of those lost, recognize the disproportionate rates of violence experienced by Indigenous communities across Canada, and raise awareness about the ongoing impacts of colonization that continue to shape these realities today.
While Indigenous women represent less than 5% of Canada’s population, they continue to experience disproportionately high rates of violence, including being 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women in Canada.
Aura Freedom attended the Red Dress Day Jingle Dress Showcase hosted by Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto (NWRCT), which uplifted the voices, resilience, cultures, and leadership of Indigenous communities through ceremony, gathering, and reflection. The event created space to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+), while celebrating the strength, traditions, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities.
We also attended the Red Dress Day Reception at Queen’s Park hosted by Minister Michael Tibollo and in collaboration with NWRCT, which brought together community members, advocates, and leaders in recognition of Red Dress Day and the urgent need for continued awareness, advocacy, and action. We were honoured to have previously showcased NWRCT’s powerful 4000 Cover Stories campaign at Aura Freedom’s Femicide and Femminicidio event, creating an opportunity to amplify this important initiative, and introduce its impact to Minister Tibollo.
Both Red Dress Day events further featured 4000 Cover Stories, a powerful project created to commemorate the lives of the thousands of Indigenous women taken and to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide of Indigenous women. The initiative includes a newspaper made up entirely of 4000 femicide cases, symbolizing the attention, visibility, and accountability stolen Indigenous women and girls deserve.
Red Dress Day serves as a reminder that Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people in Canada continue to face disproportionate rates of violence, including human trafficking and femicide. Aura Freedom remains committed to standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities and supporting efforts toward systemic change, safety, healing, and justice for Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people – not only on Red Dress Day, but every day.
