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Red Dress Day display in New West urges people to “to raise our voices and hearts” to those who have been lost

May 5 is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
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A display of red dresses and flowers aims to raise awareness about Red Dress Day, and the issues it represents.

A display in front of a New West apartment building is helping to raise awareness about Red Dress Day.

May 5 is Red Dress Day in Canada, a day also known as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. On this day, red dresses are displayed as a reminder of the 1,000-plus Aboriginal women who have been murdered or have gone missing across Canada.

Today, a number of red dresses, red flowers and signage are displayed in front of an apartment building in the 400 block of Eighth Street.

“The day began in 2010 as an ‘esthetic response to more than 1,000 missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada’ by Jaime Black (Métis). In times of social distancing and isolation due to health crisis, it is essential to raise our voices and hearts to the people that have been lost,” said a sign posted beside the red dresses. “Please join us in solidarity by wearing red, participating in virtual events, and reviewing the National Inquiry Calls for Justice. These legal imperatives outline transformative actions in the areas of health, security, justice and culture that aim to eradicate violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA.”

In 2019, New Westminster city council approved a series of actions in response to Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which was released on June 3, 2019 and contains 231 calls to justice. As reported in the Record, council unanimously approved a motion that calls on the city, other levels of government and organizations to take action to implement actions in the report.

Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
Email tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca