Every May, the St. Michaels University Senior School is buzzing with students studying and writing Advanced Placement (AP) exams, finishing up courses, sorting out graduation plans, and the anticipation of year-end. Yet amongst this excitement, there is a day many Canadians pass without a second thought … May 5. I hope that this article allows you to consider this day and reflect upon its significance as it impacts society, particularly Indigenous communities. It marks a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+): those lost, those still missing, and those who have survived.
Growing up as a white woman, I was born into privilege. I rarely worried about my safety and felt confident that if I were to go missing, those looking for me would not be dismissed. Over time, I’ve come to understand that these feelings are not shared by all Canadians, especially Indigenous women, who account for 16% of female homicide victims and 11% of missing women despite making up only 4.3% of Canada’s population (Assembly of First Nations). The loved ones fight daily to have their concerns addressed, sometimes facing delays or dismissal when seeking support from authorities. I have spoken with those who have lost loved ones and heard repeatedly about the challenges they faced and still do. The ripples of these losses span generations. This is not an issue of the past — it remains ongoing today.
Perhaps, you know May 5 better as Red Dress Day, inspired by the REDress Project, an art installation by Jaime Black. The red dresses are intentionally empty, symbolizing absence: the lives no longer physically present. Displayed in public spaces, they ask us to pause, notice, and reflect. When you arrive on campus this year, you may notice red dresses hanging in various places, or faculty and students wearing red. This has been organized with help from the Girl Up club in an effort to bring awareness to the day and express solidarity with Indigenous communities in their calls for justice.
You too can help support Indigenous communities and bring awareness of the ongoing and systemic gaps that continue to allow these injustices to persist. You can educate yourself on the issue (some resources are shared at the end of this article), join a walk in your community, listen to the family members left behind, share that social media post about a missing Indigenous woman, and stay informed and continue to call on governments to act on the 231 Calls for Justice that came out of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
This is an opportunity to take a gentle pause in May and the day invites us to reflect on our place, privilege, and relationships. Whether it’s wearing red, learning more, or taking a moment to listen and reflect, May 5 is an opportunity to recognize lives lost and stand in solidarity with those still seeking justice. As a next step, we might consider exploring initiatives like the Moose Hide Campaign. Some members of our school community will be participating in the May 14 march, taking part in a broader movement to stand against gender-based violence.
Related Resources:
CBC Kids News: "The origins of Red Dress Day and MMIWG2S+"
Podcast:
- Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild - “Search the Landfill”
- Stolen Season 1- “The Search for Jermain”
Books:
- “Highway of Tears” by Jessica McDiarmid
- “Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls” by Angela Sterritt
TV and Cinema
- Three Pines on Prime
- Taken on APTN
- Fancy Dance
About the Author:
Allison Higinbotham (née Fenneman, she/they) was born and raised on the traditional territory of the Pentlatch, E’iksan, and K’ómoks First Nations (Courtenay, Vancouver Island). She has British ancestry through her mother, as well as German and settler-Canadian roots through her father.
