May 5 marks Red Dress Day in Canada, a day of remembrance for the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals across the country.
In Wilmot, a passionate invitation came from Elder Nina De Shane at the Wilmot Family Resource Centre: “It would mean so much to Indigenous people if the churches would acknowledge Red Dress Day by hanging dresses at their places of worship.”
The Wilmot Ecumenical Working Group on Indigenous/Settler Relationships (WEWGISR) is working with local churches to respond to this request.
To help make Red Dress Day happen in Wilmot, The WEWGISR purchased 22 red dresses. The dresses were smudged (a form of purification) by a member of the local Indigenous community in accordance with and respecting Indigenous protocol and culture. Each dress has a profile of a missing or murdered woman, girl or two-spirited person and an explanation of Red Dress Day.
Nine churches are participating in this first year of the local project. Red dresses will be hung either inside or outside for a time period on and around May 5 as each faith community determines. Congregations are encouraged to include information and reflection about MMIWG2S+ during services.
People can also choose to hang red dresses at their homes. Other ways to acknowledge this day are red ribbons, placing a red heart or red feather in the window.
For more information, contact ecumenicalworkinggroup@gmail.com.
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