Métis Nation Columbia River Society – On the morning of May 5, members of the Métis Nation Columbia River gathered in Golden for a heartfelt ceremony to mark Red Dress Day — a national day of awareness and remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S).
The event served as a powerful reminder of the lives lost and the urgent need for justice and healing.
Red Dress Day was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black, who began the REDress Project in 2010 by hanging empty red dresses in public spaces as a visual representation of those who are missing. Today, the red dress has become a national symbol — an emblem of sorrow, strength, and solidarity.
The ceremony in Golden featured speeches, prayers, and the hanging of red dresses to honour the thousands of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals whose lives have been taken or remain missing. Community members gathered in support, wearing red and listening intently to the stories shared by families and advocates.
“This is not just about remembrance — it’s also about action,” said one speaker from the Columbia River Métis Nation. “We stand here today for our daughters, our sisters, our aunties, our friends. We are calling for change, for protection, for justice.”
The ongoing crisis of MMIWG2S in Canada is rooted in the intergenerational impacts of colonization, systemic racism, and gender-based violence.
According to national data, more than six in ten Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime — a staggering and unacceptable figure that continues to have lasting effects on families and communities.
Red Dress Day aligns with the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Calls to Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
These include improving access to culturally safe health care, strengthening justice systems, and supporting Indigenous-led research and community initiatives.
At the local level, the Métis Nation Columbia River continues to raise awareness and support affected families through ceremonies, education, and advocacy. Red Dress Day is a time not only to mourn, but to recommit to the pursuit of justice and lasting change.
As the ceremony concluded, red dresses swayed gently in the wind — each one a haunting symbol of absence and a call to remember. Attendees were invited to reflect, to learn, and to carry the message forward.
“We honour their spirits, their stories, and their strength,” one elder said. “And we will not forget.”
