Red Dress Day walk honours missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people

Residents in Waterloo Region hit the street to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

Residents marked Red Dress Day with a march through Kitchener’s downtown core.

Solidarity walks were also held Tuesday in communities across Canada to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S).

The Healing of the Seven Generations organized Tuesday’s event in Kitchener. Participants started at the organization’s headquarters on Frederick Street and then made their way to city hall and the clock tower in Victoria Park.

There was also a community gathering, sacred fire, guest speakers and a candlelight vigil, as well as red dresses displayed on the lawn.

Organizers said the day is about visibility, remembrance and continued calls for action.

“It’s a very important day for me. My mother was murdered when I was nine,” said organizer Serena Wesley. “There’s so many stories out there of missing people and what has happened to them. And sometimes, we don’t feel represented enough.”

Some participants had red handprints over their mouths, a symbol widely recognized as representing missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Wesley said the walk is a reminder of our ongoing responsibility to vulnerable communities.

“There are so many people that need help and sometimes people slip through the cracks. That’s unfortunate. We do have organizations that step up… to help represent and promote this day and show up for the walk. We do appreciate that, but I think we also need to look at how every day this is something we work on.”

For participants, the goal remains the same each year – to honour the lost, support families and push for systemic change.

“We will invite other people to step up and maybe tell stories of their loved ones that have gone through the same thing,” Wesley explained. “I tell my mom’s story so she’s not a forgotten person. I’m her voice because she’s not here to have a voice for herself. And I encourage other people to tell those stories as well. To be the voice to the people that can’t be here.”

“I feel like I’m super lucky,” added her 10-year-old niece, Mackenzie. “I can then continue with my culture that I probably wouldn’t have learned if I didn’t have my aunt. I’m really happy about that. That’s what makes me really happy, getting to learn more about my culture every day.”