Red Dress Day honours memory of MMIWG2S+

The City of Lethbridge will mark Red Dress Day on Sunday, May 5, to honour the memory of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit+ (MMIWG2S+) people.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) was launched in 2015 to investigate and report on "systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls," including social, economic, cultural, institutional, legislative and other causes.

In 2019, the National Inquiry released its final report and 231 Calls for Justice. In response to those Calls for Justice, the City and community partners developed the MMIWG Recommendations and Work Plan. The work plan includes 25 recommendations and a series of projects aimed at addressing social, economic, cultural and institutional barriers facing Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples in our community.

As part of the work plan, a toolkit was developed to help residents and community members learn more about the traditional concepts of family and community life for Niitsitapiiaakiiks (Blackfoot women), Saipáí’tapiiaakiiks (Indigenous, Non-Blackfoot women) and Two-Spirit+ people.

The toolkit features actions that individuals, businesses and media partners can take to help support Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in our community. The MMIWG Toolkit is available for viewing or download here.

City Hall will be illuminated in red on Sunday evening to promote awareness of the day.

For Public Inquiries:

Call or Chat with 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.