Red Dress Day activities kick off across Saskatchewan to commemorate MMIWG

Red Dress Day events, such as a memorial walk, kicked off on Friday in Regina and Saskatoon in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Many Red Dress Day events are being held across the province in honour of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

In Regina and Saskatoon, events were already being held starting on Friday with a Red Dress Day installation and an awareness walk.

“It’s important to remember the missing and murdered Indigenous women in our community. Numbers are climbing at a crazy rate, and we see it every day,” said Samantha Racette, the Indigenous community development co-ordinator at Four Directions Community Health Centre. “This is more about the community. It’s about our collective healing.”

Four Directions Community Health Centre in Regina partnered with SaskGaming, Casino Regina and Moose Jaw, All Nations Hope, Regina Police Services and Scott Collegiate on the Red Dress Day walk on Friday.

Izzy Sunshine, who participated in the walk held at the mâmawêyatitân centre, had an aunt who travelled the country and says she was almost taken.

“It was a really scary time for us. We didn’t know if she was going to be OK, but she’s thankfully and fortunately OK now,” Sunshine said. “It’s a very real and scary thing and just walking this earth as an Indigenous woman … it could happen to anybody.”

In Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Police Service held a Calling Home Ceremony at its headquarters for a pipe ceremony and gathering to honour of all MMIWG2S (MMIWG and two-spirit) persons. At the University of Saskatchewan in the Campus Bowl, there was a Red Dress Day installation, where hands-on activities, such as creating a red dress pin.

Sunday marks the official Red Dress Day where both cities will have various events to commemorate the day. At the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina, a come-and-go public event will kick off at 11 a.m. and will run until 3 p.m. There will be a beading session for both adults and children. A film, If I Go Missing, will be screened and visitors also have an opportunity to visit the Place of Reflection, which is a place to reflect and honour MMIWG.