Red Dress Day observed in Sioux Lookout 

Tim Brody - Editor

Red Dress Day 2024 was recognized on May 5 in Sioux Lookout with a sunrise ceremony and sacred fire in the morning at the Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre and in the evening with a ceremony at the Town Beach hosted by Sunset Women’s Aboriginal Circle (SWAC) and the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA).
May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S).
“Coined by Métis artist Jaime Black as “an aesthetic response to this critical national issue.” The ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people that we are facing is a direct result of colonization. In Canada, more than six in ten (63%) Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. The impact of these disproportionately high rates of violence is felt in all areas of life,” noted the Canadian Institute of Health Research (https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52964.html).   
Usinece Robinson, SWAC Housing Support Worker, said the evening ceremony was about raising awareness and honoring MMIWG2S as well as “Just being present. Something that I was thinking of when it comes to the MMIWG2S movement is that a lot of these women, they don’t have the chance anymore to just live the good life. I think that as us here right now on Mother Earth, we should just be able to come together to honour and to help move everyone forward in a good way. I think the overall direction of our people is to just bring that healing.”
Nishnawbe Aski Nation posted on Facebook on May 5, “May 5th is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, or “Red Dress Day”.
“Violence against Indigenous people is systemic and a national crisis that requires urgent, informed and collaborative action. Statistics Canada has found that even when all other differentiating factors are accounted for, Indigenous women are still at a significantly higher risk of violence than non-Indigenous women.
“This validates what many indigenous women and girls already know: just being Indigenous and female makes you a target.
“On this day, and everyday, NAN supports grieving families, and works to create opportunities for healing and justice.”
The Canadian Institute of Health Research shared, “If you, or someone you know is experiencing signs of distress, don’t hesitate to reach out to services available 24/7/365:

• Hope for Wellness Help Line (Indigenous centred): 1-855-242-3310
  
• Crisis Services Canada: (Canada-wide) 9-8-8
• National Family and Survivors Circle: 1-844-413-6649