May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S) in Canada. Also known as Red Dress Day.

This day began as “an aesthetic response to more than 1000 missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada" by Jaime Black. The red dresses act as a visual reminder of all of the missing women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.

The legacies of residential schools, the 60s scoop, and ongoing colonization including resource theft and socio-economic conditions like poverty, sexism, racism, and discrimination often fall the hardest on women and gender diverse people.

In May 2019, a 1,200 page report from Canada was released on the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). It includes over 230 recommendations and concluded that the murder and disappearance of Indigenous women and girls is an ongoing genocide.

We must move forward to end the violence against MMIWG2S+.

The day is about building awareness of this ongoing harm and honouring those we have lost and their families. You can mark the day by:

  • Wearing red and posting it to social media. Use hashtags such as: #MMIWG, #MMIWG2S, #RedDressDay, #WhyWeWearRed, and #NoMoreStolenSisters
  • Hang a red dress in your window or your yard.

The day can be triggering for those affected by MMWIG2S+ loss.

You can connect with the MMWIG2S+ support call line at 1-844-413-6649. This line is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There is also the Indigenous-specific Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-242-3310. They offer Indigenous crisis counselling including in some Indigenous languages.​

North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) provides wraparound services for children, youth and their families with a wide range of supports. We also offer crisis services where you can expect 24/7 crisis support services for child and youth mental health. Contact NEOFACS by calling 705-360-7100 or Toll-Free at 1-800-665-7743 in the Cochrane District or 1-866-229-5437 in the Timiskaming District.