Crimson-coloured gowns lined the streets of Calgary on Tuesday to honour Red Dress Day, the national day for acknowledging and spreading awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S). 

The annual time of reconciliation was observed through events held across the city on May 5, a day symbolic of Métis artist Jamie Black’s 2010 initiative, the REDress Project, which involved hanging red dresses in public spaces to represent the longstanding impact of colonization. 

Despite being roughly five per cent of Canada’s population, Indigenous women make up 16 per cent of all female homicide victims and 11 per cent of missing women. Additionally, they experience disproportionately high rates of violence, with more than 63 per cent having endured physical or sexual assault in their lifetime.

New research from Thomson Reuters found that, across all provinces, Alberta has the highest proportion of MMIW incidents at 25 per cent of all cases, ahead of Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia. 

Red Dress Day in Calgary

Before the Sacred Steps walk began its 5.2 km lap from The Confluence Historical Site and Parkland to the Peace Bridge and back, the day started at 9:30 a.m. with a fire-lighting, Elder’s prayer, and words from guests Casey Eagle Speaker and Karen English. 

Once back at the site at 12 p.m., attendees were greeted with drinks and hot lunch. Visitors stayed for a tipi raising, with some volunteering to help build the structure by moving the wooden poles and canvas. 

That afternoon, a separate demonstration was held at Memorial Drive’s Field of Crosses. For its sixth annual rendition, the area became Field of Red Ribbons for the day as nearby trees and community benches were adorned with red ribbons, dresses, and banners.

On Friday, May 8, the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary will host its third annual Red Dress Traditional Powwow at The Big Four Roadhouse. From 6 to 10 p.m., the opening ceremony will be followed by a wide range of dances from all age groups. 

Donations were collected all throughout Tuesday by the Stardale Women’s Group, a local charity mentoring Indigenous youth ages 10 to 17 by equipping them with life skills to “set them on a solid course for their future.”

The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland

Memorial Drive