A walk in honour of National Day for Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited People (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day, will take place on Friday, May 2, starting from Tis’kwat and ending at Willingdon Beach.
Organizer and social worker/counsellor Cyndi Pallen said this is the seventh year the Red Dress walk and ceremony has taken place in qathet, which invites the community to join in a day of honouring and healing. The walk and ceremony is in partnership with Tla'amin Nation, qathet SAFE and for the first time, a women's group named šɛʔgat, or lifting spirits.
"Our elders who have supported us yearly are Doreen Point and John Louie and myself, and with our [qathet SAFE executive director] Ann [Kurtz], we will implement the candlelight ceremony to send our positive regards prayers to the four directions at Willingdon Beach," said Pallen. "Other volunteers are Gillian and Jen of qathet SAFE, and Phil Russell, who has put up the red dresses over the years."
The use of red dresses to represent missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls was originated by Métis artist Jaime Black in 2010. According to the Assembly of First Nations, Indigenous women make up 16 per cent of all female homicide victims, and 11 per cent of missing women, yet Indigenous people make up only 4.3 per cent of the population of Canada.
"We will create a safe space for Indigenous peoples and our allies to share in a ceremony," said Pallen. "We will acknowledge the atrocities toward Indigenous women, girls and two-spirits, as well as those impacted by violence or those who have experienced tragic loss of loved ones who have gone missing."
Pallen encourages folks to "wear red and join the walk to bring light to this day for all." The walk begins at 3 pm.
Pallen, qathet SAFE and Sally Louie from Tla’amin family support service have been working closely together since January 2025, with šɛʔgat (lifting spirits) women’s group, which continues until June.
"The group was taught how to speak in Tla’amin Language and learned about the protocols of Tla’amin that strengthen identity and self," said Pallen. "These practices will help strengthen participants’ sense of belonging, self-esteem and šɛʔgat (lifting spirits)."
Pallen said the group is looking forward to walking in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.
"All women will be wearing regalia made for the group, along with using the new drums women made within the group together," said Pallen. "The group will be composing a new song and drumming for the walk."
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