Committee
Standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities on Red Dress Day (May 5)
May 2, 2025
To: All MoveUP members
This Monday, May 5, 2025, marks the 15th anniversary of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People (MMIWG2S+).
This day is also known as Red Dress Day, a name which came from a powerful art project created in 2010 by Métis artis Jamie Black when she hung hundreds of empty red dresses in public spaces – known as The REDress Project – as a way to remind people of the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women and girls lost because of gender-based violence.
The red dresses serve as a powerful symbol of the lives lost and the urgent need for justice, awareness, and systemic change.
MoveUP stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities and recommit to supporting truth, reconciliation, and meaningful action to end gender-based violence.
This weekend, and on Monday, May 5, many communities will be hosting marches, spaces for reflection, and ceremonies to remember and honour the victims while supporting the families.
Below is a list of events taking place around BC that we encourage members to attend if they are available. If you know of an event happening in your community, please email me and we will do our best to share it with our members.
MMIWG2S+ Awareness March hosted by Cheam First Nation (Sunday, May 4 in Rosedale, BC)
Red Dress Day event hosted by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (Monday, May 5 in Kamloops)
City of Pitt Meadows Red Dress Day Ceremony 2025 (Monday, May 5 in Pitt Meadows)
Mackenzie’s 3rd Annual Red Dress Day March (Monday, May 5 in Mackenzie)
Red Dress Day Walk and Ceremony co-hosted by the Penticton Indian Band, City of Penticton, Ooknakane Friendship Centre, Okanagan Nation Alliance, and South Okanagan Métis Association (Monday, May 5 in Penticton)
Our Women Are Sacred Walk (Monday, May 5 in Victoria)
Government of Canada: Red Dress Day 2025: Working Together to End Violence against Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ People (Wednesday, May 7, Virtual Event)
On behalf of your Women &Gender Rights Committee,
Christy Slusarenko,
Chair, Women & Gender Rights Committee
