Membertou First Nation Red Dress Day walk to remember loved ones

A lone red dress symbolizing the cause of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls hangs from a tree on the Skye River Trail on National Indigenous Peoples Day in We'koqma'q First Nation, N.S. on Friday, June 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

On Red Dress Day – which honours missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+) – Jeff Ward says everyone needs to confront the root causes of the violence.

Ward, the general manager of the Membertou Heritage Park in Cape Breton, said a Red Dress walk will start at the Membertou police station at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

“Many of us having been living with this reality our entire lives with memories of violence to Indigenous women and girls for approximately 500 years,” Ward said. “This day is an important reminder about the disproportionate violence.”

Red Dress Day started as a project by Metis artist Jaime Black in 2010. It has since evolved into a national event to raise awareness about the violence facing members of the Indigenous community.

According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 63 per cent of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual assault.

In the Maritimes, there are currently three active cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous women, one in each province.

Cpl. Hans Ouellette with the New Brunswick RCMP says Jared Smith, 38, was charged with the second-degree murder of Sheri Lynn Sabattis of Welamukotuk First Nation in 2024.

Scott C. Ferris, senior communications advisor with the P.E.I. RCMP, says they have one open file on a missing or murdered Indigenous person, but could not provide further details as it is an ongoing investigation.

The Nova Scotia RCMP also has one open file, which is the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan.

“Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada continue to face disproportionately high risks of going missing, violence and homicide,” Ouellette said in an email. “Their health, safety and well-being are a priority for the RCMP, and we recognize the profound impact these tragedies have on families and communities.”

On Tuesday, following the walk, Ward said they will have speeches at 1 p.m. He notes the issues of violence to Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people received much more attention these days than in past decades.

“There are so many allies involved now in so many organizations,” Ward said. “We’re not considered troublemakers, we’re bringing awareness. We need the courage to challenge the maintaining of status quo.

“This event is for everyone. All allies, all organizations, all nationhoods. Everyone is welcome to attend.”

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