REDress Project 2018

add to outlook add to google calendar remind me

Saturday, February 10th, 2018
9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

The REDress Project is an “art-turned-protest” display created in 2010 by Métis artist Jaime Black as a representation of the Indigenous women and girls lost to violent crime and as a call for action to prevent future violence. The project has been displayed in public spaces across the country including the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

Indigenous women and girls in Canada are disproportionately affected by all forms of violence. Although Indigenous women make up 4% of Canada’s female population, 16% of all women murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012 were Indigenous - an alarming overrepresentation. In 2014 RCMP identified a total of 1,181 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Numerous other reports and studies on violence towards Indigenous women in Canada have identified underlying causes like poverty, homelessness, racism, sexism, the legacy of colonization and the devastation caused by the residential school system.

Publicly hanging a symbolic red dress invites local conversation about this issue. Red is a striking colour and an empty dress hanging from a barren tree has a haunting visual impact. It is a bleak reminder of the tragedies facing many Indigenous women. We must not forget them or their story.

Warmland Women’s Support Services Society will both honour and draw attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women by hanging red dresses from trees in Charles Hoey Park (train station) downtown Duncan. This striking one-day display supports the annual Stolen Sisters marches. This is not a political action but rather a sacred circle for prayer - a silent vigil of red dresses. This is a community event, and we are inviting community members to participate by donating a plain red dress to hang Sat. morning at 9:00, or by joining our prayer circle at approximately 9:30.