National Red Dress Day, May 5, 2024

National Red Dress Day, May 5, 2024

May 5 is National Red Dress Day, a day to remember and honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples (MMIWG2S+). Red Dress Day serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing genocidal crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and invites solidarity and action. Currently, Indigenous women make up 16 per cent of all femicide victims and 11 per cent of all missing women. Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples are also 6 times more likely to be murdered than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Indigenous women are twice as likely to experience violence from a partner. These high rates of violence have drawn widespread expressions of concern from national and international human rights authorities, which have repeatedly called for Canada to address the problem. However, nearly four years after the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and two years following the release of the National Action Plan, only two of the 231 Calls for Justice have been implemented, while an implementation timeline has yet to be released.

The Pre-Employment Supports Program in Partnership with Round Lake Treatment Centre will be hanging our Banner (attached) with a few Red Dresses on Saturday May 4, 2024, until Monday May 6, 2024 just below the Round Lake Treatment Centre sign along Highway 97 & Madeline Lake Road. There is no formal event for Sunday May 5, 2024 and we ask for support by wearing something red, hang a Red Dress outside your home , in your yard, in a tree on your property to express our solidarity with Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ victims, survivors, and families. Post a photo of yourself in Red with hashtags #MMIWG2S #MMIW #nomorestolensisters #endviolience #sistersinspirit #seemehearmerememberme

Other events in the area as attached.

Ki Lown Na Friendship Center Friday May 3, 2024 10:30-2:00 pm Meet at KFS and join the march to the Court House

Grassroots & Community of Penticton Sunday May 5, 2024 1-3 pm Meet at SS Sicamous and march to Gyro Park. (no poster available)

Tekemlups Te Secweppemc Sunday May 5, 2024 10 am-1 pm Moccasin Squares Gardens

BC Native Women’s Association Sunday May 5, 2024 noon-2 pm Riverside Park Bandshell, Kamloops BC

Interior Health Authority Sunday May 5, 2024 4:00 PM Riverside Park Bandshell, Kamloops