‘We want to create awareness’: Calgarians mark Red Dress Day 2025

Calgarians gathered Monday at events to remember thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Monday marks the 15th anniversary of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, two-spirit and LGBTQ+ people (MMIWG2S+), also known as Red Dress Day.

The annual event serves as an acknowledgement that, according to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people in Canada are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered than non-Indigenous women.

About two-dozen people gathered at Calgary’s Central Library at 11 a.m. to join a walk honouring victims and pushing for change.

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Casandra Desjarlais-Stickel says her grandparents are both Cree, and she participated in the walk for her cousin from Saskatchewan who went missing.

“Whenever a child goes missing or a woman goes missing, especially indigenous women, it breaks my heart,” she said.

“I’ve had family and friends go missing all the time, and they haven’t been able to find them yet.

“I would like for a light to be shown on the indigenous community. I love people coming together to help each other.”

William Weese, who has Ojibwe roots, also participated in Monday’s walk.

“I was able to avoid the 60s scoops because I have white skin,” Weese said. “My mother always told me, be very proud of who you are, but be very careful who you tell.”

“My friends that were native and people I grew up with just up and disappeared, and I didn’t know where they were.”

“It’s so important that this attention needs to be brought (forward), and we need to heal.”

Aside from serving as the starting point for Monday’s walk, the Central Library is also the location of a painting by Dawn Marie Marchand called “Prayers for My Sisters,” which serves as a touching tribute to missing and murdered Indigenous women.

It isn’t the only library location with Red Dress Day installations.

“Throughout all locations we have Red Dress banners,” explained Sarah Buffalo from the Calgary Public Library.

“The Red Dress we have on the banners is from Livia Manywounds, she’s a TsuuT’ina designer, and we have red dress cutouts where people can reflect on what they’ve learned about this day.”

Buffalo says the Calgary Public Library is dedicated to upholding Truth and Reconciliation.

“On a day like this, we want to create awareness, create educational opportunities and also build relationships with our Indigenous communities,” she said.

At the conclusion of the walk, people gathered at the Women’s Centre of Calgary at 1 p.m. for Elder-led teachings, Bannock and tea.

For more information and a list of resources, you can visit CalgaryLibrary.ca.