A solemn and drum-filled gathering overtook a portion of the Vernon downtown core on Monday, May 5, for Red Dress Day.
Red Dress Day is the national day of awareness and remembrance for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Coined by M茅tis artist Jaime Black, the day is a means to bring awareness and a call to action for the MMIW crisis in the country.
The women's warrior song was sung during a gathering at the North Okanagan Friendship Centre for Red Dress Day on Monday, May 5.
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Hosted by the North Okanagan Friendship Centre, the day saw speeches and drum performances, along with a ribbon-tying activity. Each ribbon tied is a symbol of remembrance, unity and love and invites one to pause, reflect and stand together in honour of MMIW.
"The colour red is the colour that spirits can see, and red dresses are used to call the spirits of MMIW back to their loved ones," said Carla Douglas, an addictions and mental health counsellor with the North Okanagan Friendship Centre. "Today we are speaking out because we are making sure that none of our sisters are ever forgotten, and we are empowering our women today so they don't have to be victims tomorrow."
Alyssa Miller organized the event and was happy to see a positive turnout.
"We are growing and taking feedback on what the community is desiring for a gathering like this," Miller said. "Awareness is the biggest thing, but also the call for action and seeing progress on that."
According to the federal government, 63 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime, and they are six times more likely to be murdered than other groups of people in Canada.
"This national crisis continues to deeply impact Indigenous families and communities across Canada," the North Okanagan Friendship Centre said. "Together, we gather to remember those who are missing, those we've lost and to stand in solidarity with the families and advocates calling for justice, safety and systemic change."
In 2016, the federal government launched a national inquiry into MMIW, with a final report including 231 calls to action and findings of genocide against Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
During the event, Douglas read a poem that she wrote, titled "Mother Earth yearns for justice."
"Daughters who now walk lost and aimlessly, they were forgotten, they were thrown away, Mother Earth yearns for justice."
