Red Dress Day – Honouring MMIW2S
Each year, we recognize May 5th as Red Dress Day - the National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIW2S). We recognize this day as a marker for remembering and honouring the lives of Indigenous women, gender-diverse people, and their communities (Women's Centre of Calgary, 2024). This National day of remembrance also serves as a reminder of the profound violence faced by Indigenous communities. Many use this day to combine efforts to raise awareness and honour the lives that have been forever impacted by gendered colonial violence, as we aim to foster a world that accepts and respects Indigenous women, girls, two spirit, and non-binary people.
The symbolic red dress serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing crisis of violence and injustice faced by Indigenous communities. The Red Dress is a visual reminder reflecting the number of lives lost, and is often hung in public or natural spaces, as a way to raise awareness and display solidarity. Many Indigenous teachings indicates that red is the only colour recognized in the Spirit world; therefore, red dresses are meant to help call back the spirits of MMIWG2S back to their loved ones, and to the Spirit world (Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, 2022).
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) MMIWG Sector continues to advocate for the implementation of the MMMIWG National Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice, and the National Action Plan to End Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ Peoples. Further, the AFN acknowledges that:
“Indigenous women are four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence.
Indigenous women make up 16% of all female homicide victims, and 11% of missing women, yet Indigenous people make up only 4.3% of the Canadian population.
Indigenous women are more likely to experience physical and sexual assault than non-Indigenous women.
56% of Indigenous women have suffered physical assault, and 46% have experienced sexual assault. By comparison, about one third of non-Indigenous women have suffered assaults in their lifetime.
Indigenous women are twice as likely to experience violence from their current or former partner.
A little more than 13% of Indigenous people experience violence from their current or ex-partner, compared to the 5.7% of non-Indigenous people (2024).”
On this day, it is also important to acknowledge that tangible action must be taken as we uphold the TRC Calls to Action. Sargent Alan Chamberlin with the Calgary Police Service, former team lead for the Indigenous Relations Team (IRT), and Elder Johnathan Red Gun former RCMP constable, provide some actionable steps that we can take into our practice.
Provide a safe space that facilitates cultural healing for Indigenous people to tell their stories.
Believe survivors the first time they share their story.
Acknowledge that MMIW is an issue that affects all Canadians.
Connect with Indigenous communities and uplift Indigenous voices.
Support Indigenous communities with the initiatives that they put forward, and advocate for the changes they recommend.
Encourage your organizations and agencies to develop Indigenous-led training programs that introduce an understanding of the Indigenous culture, practices, and community values.
Ensure that these training program facilitators are compensated for their sharing of knowledge.
(Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth, 2024).
Additionally, non-Indigenous social workers must be cognizant and reflective to the colonial structures of both historical and contemporary social work practice that contribute to the MMIWG2S crises. Non-Indigenous social workers must reflect not only today, but every day, of our responsibilities to foster an anti-colonial approach to social work practices to ensure the dignified and culturally informed treatment of Indigenous communities. Non-Indigenous social workers must continue to stand in solidarity with families and communities affected by this ongoing tragedy, and continuously commit to seeking justice, healing, and systemic change.
Indigenous social workers play a pivotal role in healing their communities by integrating culturally relevant practices and perspectives that honor their cultural identity and address specific community needs. Indigenous social workers contribute profoundly to the healing and strengthening of their communities, fostering environments where cultural identities are celebrated, and resilience is built. Their work is integral to creating pathways that allow individuals and communities to thrive. By promoting the revitalization of Indigenous cultural practices that honor and respect women and gender diversity, social workers help strengthen community values that protect against violence and continue to build resiliency within communities, and enable healing.
As Canadian Social Workers work to uphold the CASW Code of Ethics, we must revere the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action in the same esteem. Call to Action #41 states, that “we call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal organizations, to appoint a public inquiry into the causes of, and remedies for, the disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and girls”. The inquiry’s mandate (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, 2024) would include:
Investigation into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.
Links to the intergenerational legacy of residential schools.
Social workers are committed to advocating for social justice and providing support to Indigenous communities in Canada through many types of interventions, therapies, and stages of their experiences with violence. Taking tangible action can help bring forth change that will contribute to the fight against gender-based violence against Indigenous women and communities. Violence against Indigenous women must stop, and social workers, advocates and allies must continue the work to challenge oppressive systems, confront injustice, and facilitate systemic and societal change. Together, in solidarity and collectivity, we can be a catalyst to change so that future generations may thrive.
Written by practicum student, Cathy Jarmain and SWAA VP, Rachelle Gladue.
References
Assembly of First Nations. (2024). Murdered & missing Indigenous women & girls. Retrieved May 4, 2024, from https://afn.ca/rights-justice/murdered-missing-indigenous-women-girls/
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. (2022). Red dresses and remembrance: Honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S). Retrieved from https://www.royalalex.org/our-stories/post/red-dresses-and-remembrance-honouring-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-girls-and-two-spirit-people-mmiwg2s
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (n.d.). Calls to action. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf
Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth. (2024, March 5). Sky sisters: The justice system. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGUFo1Grb4Q&t=11s
Women's Centre of Calgary. (2024, April 24). May 5th is Red Dress Day. Retrieved from https://www.womenscentrecalgary.org/may-5th-is-red-dress-day/