Red Dress Day

From the Centre for Indigenous Women, Two Spirit and Gender Diversity

May 5^th is a day to show support and honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+. This is also a day to support the families that are grieving and on their own journey of healing. To continue to raise awareness the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan (AFCS) and The Princess Shop partnered (TPS) teamed up to work with family members to empower all those affected by this reality.

We welcomed a group of family members to join us at the Princess Shop for a day of pampering and glam. Each participant was able to search through the breathtaking dresses that are available at TPS. Once they found the perfect red dress, they were able to get their hair and makeup done by professionals. The atmosphere was welcoming with laughter and stories. After they chose their accessories and shoes it was off to the spot for some photos to be taken. Each lady looked stunning in their formal red dress and posed with self-confidence and beauty.

The hard part of the day was saying goodbye to our friends and having them reflect on what this day meant to the participants. Many of them spoke through tears of how important it is to raise awareness so that their loved ones are not forgotten and to advocate so that these tragedies stop happening. A young lady whose mom is still missing mentioned that there shouldn’t even need to be a day for this, these indignities should never happen to our Indigenous woman, girls and 2SLGBTQ+

As we honour and pay tribute to our lost loved ones, we know how important it is to support families who are left to mourn. We hope that this day they felt empowered, loved and a sense of hope for the future.

Kashia Campbell and Brianna Thomas

“Red Dress Day means In honouring of our mother and our cousin. It’s a day to bring awareness to all missing and murdered Indigenous women. It gives us a day to think about missing and murdered Indigenous women and to grieve.”

Dress: The Princess Shop
Photographer: Emma Teed Photography
Hair: Brianna Gardipy
Make Up: Beauty by Billie-Rose

Michelle Corry

“I’m here as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community supporting my Indigenous sisters. It is so important we stand together and fight back for the countless lives that have been lost. I’m here to support my community, as we stand tall together, and speak out against these reprehensible crimes. These crimes affect all women, and we as women are worthy. We as women will not stop, until this stops, and when it does, we will keep fighting for the rights of all women. My heart goes out to all the families who have lost their children, their loved ones, and their sisters. I’m proud to stand here today and speak out against our missing murdered women, as we reflect on Red Dress Day. Don’t give up, I’m calling all women to stand together, because together we will create change and change is needed here today.”

Dress: The Princess Shop
Photographer: Emma Teed Photography
Hair & Make Up: Brianna Gardipy

Jennifer Bear

“Red Dress Day means that it honours all the missing and murdered indigenous women. The reason why I came to participate is to honour my sister as she was murdered and it gives us a healing journey.”

Dress: The Princess Shop
Photographer: Karen Robson
Hair: Brianna Gardipy
Make Up: Beauty by Billie-Rose

Jessica Moore

“Red Dress Day means to me for murdered and missing Aboriginal women and girls. The reason I put on the red dress is for my late sister and my late aunty and the rest of the murdered and missing women and girls all across east to west coasts of Canada.”

Dress: The Princess Shop
Photographer: Karen Robson
Hair: Brianna Gardipy
Make Up: Beauty by Billie-Rose