On May 5, 2026, we observe Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). This day is a solemn and powerful reminder of the thousands of Indigenous lives lost or taken through violence, indifference, and systemic injustice across Canada.
Red Dress Day is a time to honour those who are missing and murdered, to uplift the voices of families and survivors, and to acknowledge the deep pain carried by Indigenous communities. Each red dress displayed or worn represents a life that should still be present—a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, partner, friend, and community member whose absence is deeply felt.
The violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people is not random. It is rooted in the ongoing impacts of colonialism, racism, sexism, and the intergenerational trauma caused by policies and systems designed to marginalize Indigenous peoples. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls affirmed that this violence constitutes a grave human rights crisis and called on all levels of government, institutions, and Canadians to take meaningful action through its 231 Calls for Justice.
Red Dress Day is not only about remembrance—it is also about responsibility. Meaningful honouring requires continued commitment to truth, justice, accountability, and reconciliation. This includes supporting Indigenous-led solutions, listening to families and survivors, addressing systemic inequities, and ensuring safer futures for Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.
Today, and every day, we remember.
We listen.
We stand in solidarity.
And we commit to change.
The Origin of Red Dress Day
Red Dress Day originates from the REDress Project, a public art installation created in 2010 by Métis artist Jaime Black (also known as Jaime Black-Morsette). The project began in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was developed as an artistic and community-based response to the growing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Through the installation, empty red dresses are hung in public spaces to powerfully symbolize the absence of the women and girls who should be wearing them.
Jaime Black chose the colour red for its cultural and spiritual significance. In many Indigenous cultures, red is believed to be the only colour that spirits can see, making the dresses a means of calling the spirits home and ensuring the women are not forgotten. Red also represents lifeblood, connection, love, and, simultaneously, violence and loss. The emptiness of the dresses evokes what Black has described as a “presence through absence,” compelling viewers to confront both what is missing and why.
As the REDress Project travelled across Canada and internationally—to universities, museums, communities, and public spaces—the red dress became a widely recognized symbol of the movement. This visibility helped inspire May 5 to be formally recognized as Red Dress Day, a National Day of Awareness and remembrance observed annually across Canada.
Today, Red Dress Day is marked by ceremonies, marches, art installations, educational events, and moments of reflection. People are encouraged to wear red, display red dresses, and learn about the ongoing realities faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people—not as history, but as an urgent present-day responsibility.