Recognizing Red Dress Day 2023: National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People

This message is sent on behalf of Tara Koski, dean, Students. Please direct questions to indigenous@durhamcollege.ca.

On May 5, we mark National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People to remember and honour those who have been taken as a result of gender-based and racialized violence in Canada.

As acknowledged in the Government of Canada’s final report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, there are disproportionately high levels of violence faced by Indigenous women and girls, and systemic injustices have contributed to this crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.

This day is also often referred to as Red Dress Day, named after the art installation by Métis artist Jaime Black who, in 2010, hung hundreds of red dresses to represent the crises of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Hanging red dresses is now a practice across Canada to continue to raise awareness for this crisis.

In honour of Red Dress Day 2023, the Durham College campus community is encouraged to wear red as a symbol of their commitment to action in the elimination of gender-based violence and to visit red dress installations from May 1 to 5 at the following campus locations: 

• The Pit, Oshawa campus  
• The Galleria, Oshawa campus  
• Student Centre, Oshawa campus 
• Main Building atrium, Whitby campus

In addition, Carea Community Health Centre invites Durham Region residents to participate in their Honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Gathering on Friday, May 5, at 4 p.m. This outdoor event will feature the lighting of a sacred fire, jingle dress dancers and guest speakers. Registration is not required.