Hundreds gathered for the 15th Red Dress Day in the city of Yellowknife to show their support for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQ+ people and their families. Many wore shades of red in solidarity for the National Day of Awareness.
A growing crowd stood in front of the Monument to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Girls. The Yellowknives Dene Drummers led with a prayer song.
Sabet Biscaye welcomed and thanked everyone for coming to show their support and thanked the Native Women’s Association, Northern Mosaic, Dene Nation, the Yellowknife Women’s Society, the Status of Women Council of NWT and YWCA among the groups who co-organized the event.
Before beginning a riveting speech, Biscaye urged anyone who might need emotional support to call 1-844-413-6649 or the NWT helpline at 1-800-661-0844.
Biscaye spoke about the importance of May 5, the National Day of Awareness for Missing Murder Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit people, also known to many as Red Dress Day.
These are her words:
“Today actually marks the 15th anniversary of Red Dress Day. It is a national movement and it began in Winnipeg when a Métis artist by the name of Jamie Black hung a number of empty red dresses as part of a commemoration. And the reason I use that emphasis on the word empty is because it signifies those empty red dresses, signifies those Indigenous women and girls, sisters that we have lost.
“Red was also chosen because it represents vitality. It can be seen from a long way away, but it also represents violence. The colour of blood is red. So, it’s significance, the colour red, is also significant to Indigenous people in that we as Indigenous people believe that Spirits can only see the colour red.
“They can’t see any other colour, except the colour red, and that has to do with the living world in the spiritual world. And so the colour red has a lot of significance for us. Why do we need a day like today? We need a day like today because of the violence that our Indigenous women girls and Two Spirit people continue to experience every day in our country.
“And it’s not just limited to our country, it’s all over the place.
“Some of this violence also results in death, and some very violently. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the discoveries at the landfill in Winnipeg, that took a lot of pushing and lobbying to have it happen.
“They didn’t want to believe it but it was pushed for and they did find remains And so things like that, continue to happen and that’s why gatherings like this are very important.
“The statistics are alarming. For example, Indigenous women make up five per cent of the overall Canadian population. However, of the number of female homicides in Canada, Indigenous women and girls and Two Spirit people make up 24 per cent of those killed. So when you think about that proportion, those statistics. I mean it’s it’s alarming.
“As a government employee. I could stand here and talk about what the GNWT is doing to address violence directed at women, girls and 2SLGBTQ people. And you’ll notice I didn’t say Indigenous in front of that, this is that everybody.
“As a government employee I can stand here and say oh yeah we developed the action plan this and that but what can we individually all do? I think it would have been more meaningful if we revealed, what we can do about MMIWG2s. With that, in mind, I’m going to review a few of the Calls for Justice directed at all Canadians.
“However, before I begin reviewing, the Calls for Justice I want you to think about the phrase Calls for Justice. That wording implies that there was a wrongdoing. And that restitution needs to take place. So what can we as Canadians do what can we as individuals do?
“There were eight Calls for Justice or eight recommendations that were directed at all Canadians. I’m just going to review a few of them because I’m mindful of the cold. I’m also mindful of we have to do the walk. The first call says:
“We call on all Canadians to denounce and speak out against violence against Indigenous women, girls. and Two Spirit people.
“By showing up here, by participating in this, by going home, by going back to work and talking about what happened here – what was it? You’re helping to spread the word, you’re helping to denounce what’s going on with Indigenous women and girls and Two Spirit people. So I commend you for that please keep doing that. Hopefully, these numbers keep growing so that will signify the awareness is growing and the more people are aware, hopefully that decreases the violence directed at women, girls and 2SLGBTQ people.
“Another one that I want to talk about is:
“Confront and speak out against racism sexism, ignorance, homophobia and transphobia and teach or encourage others to do the same wherever it occurs.
“In your home, in your workplace, or in social settings. This is even more significant now when you think about what’s happening, south of our border. A lot of our brothers and sisters south of the border are being impacted. They’re not being allowed to be themselves. And that’s really dangerous.
“We as Canadians, we pride ourselves on our diversity. And I think that makes us stronger and when you see what’s been happening across our country since inauguration it pulled the country together and this is something that we can also pull together on.”
“Biscaye thanked everyone who had gathered and encouraged everyone to review the Calls for Justice directed at all Canadians.
“Some of it has to do with learning, some of it has to do with sharing and so forth. They’re all achievable. So I encourage you to do that,” said Biscaye.
Melissa Hardisty came forward to tell the story of the loss of her beloved daughter ten years ago.
“Ten years ago, I moved to Fort Liard, and we weren’t even living in Fort Liard very long, not even a month, and our daughter was taken from us. She was 12 years old, full of energy, wanting to learn so much. And you know, just loved being out there, loved her family, loved her cousins. She brought great joy to our family. And it’s really hard talking about,” said Hardisty who tells the story, a story that only a mother who loved her daughter with all of her heart can tell.
Hardisty’s voice is filled with emotion and in the crowd, many have eyes filled with tears but she urges those gathered to move forward with courage and strength.
“And today, when we walk, let’s remember who we’re protecting and what we’re walking for and why we’re standing tall with each other so that we can protect our young girls and then hope that we do, find more girls,” said Hardisty.
The group gathered made their way down the pathway to 48th Street.
Folks marching took up one direction of traffic, the entire stretch of the road curving around blocks of city streets, as they moved into the city’s downtown core.
After the last leg of the march, everyone was warmly welcomed to sit down to spend time to rest a while and enjoy each other’s company and share caribou stew, moose stew, bannock at the Northern United Place.
