Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit+ People

Red Dress Day is May 5

Red Dress Day will be recognized at all Library locations from April 25 – May 7, with displays designed by Livia Manywounds, a Blackfoot designer, artist, communications specialist, and owner and founder of Dancing Storm Designs. Her designs have been featured at 2022 Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, 2023 Indigenous Fashion Week Vancouver, and National Women's Show 2024. 

Some First Nations believe that the colour red is the only colour that spirits can see. Red is used so that the souls of those who have been lost can be with us. A red hand over the mouth represents the silenced voices of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit+ people. 

Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or missing than all other women in Canada. 

Between 2009 – 2021, 490 Indigenous women and girls were the victims of homicide.

Indigenous women are two times more likely than non-Indigenous women to have experienced sexual abuse by an adult before the age of 15. 

Source: Statistics Canada 

Important Resources

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action #41 PDF addresses the issue of disproportionate violence towards Indigenous women and girls and calls for the creation of a public inquiry into the crisis.

Inquiries and Research Reports 

Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 

Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview 

Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: 2015 Update to the National Operational Overview 

Court outcomes in homicides of Indigenous women and girls, 2009-2021 

Voice of Our Sisters in Spirit: A Report to Families and Communities PDF 

What Their Stories Tell Us: Research Findings from the Sisters in Spirit Initiative 

Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls in Alberta

Campaigns

Alberta Joint Working Group on MMIW 

Moose Hide Campaign 

Annual Memorial Walk to Honour the Lives of MMIWG2S+ 

Safe Passage 

Red Dress Day 

Sisters in Spirit Day 

No More Silence 

Additional Resources

Sisters in Spirit Day – Government of Alberta

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada – The Canadian Encyclopedia

No More Stolen Sisters – University of British Columbia

Action Plans 

NWAC Action Plan, Our Calls, Our Actions: NWAC’s Action Plan to End the Attack Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender-Diverse People PDF 

Breathing Life into the Calls for Justice: An Action Plan to End Violence Against First Nations Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People PDF

Ending the critical situation of violence, disappearance, and murder of First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse people 

Not Enough: All Words and No Action on MMIWG PDF

Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to Discrimination and Violence against Indigenous Women in Canada 

2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan