Today, our government encourages all Manitobans to join us in honouring the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples across Canada.
In Canada, Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples are disproportionately targeted for violence more so than any other group. Today, we remember those who have lost their lives to gender-based violence, and we honour the healing journeys of families and communities that live with the ongoing grief of losing a loved one.
National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) also known as Red Dress Day, honours the spirits of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples across the country. The day began as a response to more than 1,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Red dresses and ribbons are put in windows or hung from trees in memory of lives lost, as a visible reminder of those who are no longer with us, and can be a powerful symbol of hope and acknowledgement. People are encouraged to wear red and hang ribbons or red dresses in support and to raise awareness about MMIWG.
In 2021, the Manitoba government further committed to addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls by introducing amendments to the Path to Reconciliation Act that established the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls as a key component of our government’s approach to advancing truth and reconciliation.
The Legislative Building will be lit with the symbolic red dress today, to encourage dialogue and bring attention to this issue which affects so many lives.
The MMIWG2S+ Implementation Committee will host a Red Dress Round Dance in Winnipeg to honour the lives of loved ones at 12 p.m. at the corner of Portage and Main, followed by a Memorial March to The Forks.
To learn more on the Manitoba government’s actions to address MMIWG, visit www.gov.mb.ca/inr/mmiwg/manitoba-action.html
For information on available support services and programs, visit www.gov.mb.ca/inr/mmiwg/resources.html
