Red Deerians recognize Red Dress Day

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“Mothers, daughters, sisters, and kids were left behind. It’s a good day to remember them,” St. Denys said.

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She added that it’s important to remember on this day each year so that the victims are never forgotten.

“If we don’t talk about them, if we don’t say their names, and if we don’t acknowledge them, they get forgotten, and it’s not OK,” she said. “When we say the names of people who have been taken away and who have passed on, they know they’re not forgotten.”

She added that seeing the number of people who showed up and the support of the community warms her heart.

“It makes my heart happy when we all come together,” she said.

(Image Credit: Ian Gustafson/rdnewsNOW)

In a statement from the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA), they call on urgent action on housing as a lifeline for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The Association said findings from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls identified housing insecurity as a structural driver of violence and positioned access to safe, culturally appropriate, and Indigenous-led housing as a core measure of prevention and justice.

“No person should ever have to choose between violence and homelessness,” said AHMA CEO Margaret Pfoh.

As a result, the AHMA is calling on all levels of government to:

• Accelerate investments in Indigenous housing across urban, rural, and northern communities
• Support Indigenous-led housing strategies and service delivery
• Fully implement the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry
• Recognize housing as essential infrastructure in preventing gender-based violence

Meanwhile, Alberta Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rajan Sawhney issued a statement on Red Dress Day explaining that those across the province and country continue to feel the pain left by missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit plus people.

“Red Dress Day makes that absence visible and calls all of us to support survivors, families and loved ones. Red Dress Day is a public acknowledgement of lives stolen and families changed forever. This day calls on us to confront the racism, misogyny and systemic barriers that continue to put Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit plus people at undue risk,” the Minister stated.

“How people talk about this crisis matters. Public discussion about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit plus people must not be minimized, but grounded in care, respect and understanding – because this is about real people and real lives.

Minister Sawhney added that Alberta’s government is focused on advancing the Alberta Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Roadmap and Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence, alongside strengthening supports to combat human trafficking.

“Families, survivors and Indigenous advocates have carried this work for years, turning grief into leadership, accountability and change. On Red Dress Day, I am asking people in Alberta to act in ways that are real and practical, learn what this day stands for and share that learning, listen to Indigenous voices, attend community events and support survivors, families and loved ones of the missing and murdered and challenge dismissive comments when you hear them. Learn the warning signs of gender-based violence and human trafficking and know where to turn for help.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also issued a statement saying today we honour the survivors and those we lost to the MMIWG2S+ crisis in Canada.

“We stand with their families and loved ones who have shown strength, solidarity, and resilience in the face of unimaginable loss and grief,” he said.

He added that this morning he was presented with a Sacred Bundle by the National Family and Survivors Circle (NFSC), which carries teachings, responsibilities, and spirit.

“It reflects the lived experiences behind the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,” Carney said. “On this solemn day, the Sacred Bundle offers hope for justice, healing, and a better tomorrow. To accept the Sacred Bundle is to accept the responsibility to advance reconciliation, prioritize the Calls for Justice, and create the conditions for renewal and resurgence.

Carney explained that his government advances the Calls for Justice and is currently engaging with Indigenous organizations.

He said to ensure the NFSC has the tools to build a safer and more equitable society, he announced that they are providing the organization with $2.6 million in funding over three years.

“We are building a Canada where all Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people can live openly, freely, and safely,” Carney said. “Reconciliation is a generational task that must be lived and practised every day. We remember what came before us, and so we are seized with the task ahead of us together.”