International Day of Action to Raise Awareness and Seek Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls,
and Two-Spirited Persons

All Out to Make September 18 International Day of Action a Resounding Success!

The “International Day of Action” being organized across the country on Monday, September 18, by Families of Sisters in Spirit, MMIWG2S+ families and advocates draws attention to the alarming numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited persons.

An event is being organized that day on Parliament Hill to demand action from the government and other relevant authorities to address this crisis. The organizers urge all relatives across Turtle Island to show support by gathering at their respective provincial and local government buildings. This widespread show of unity and solidarity will underscore the gravity of the issue and push for comprehensive national action, they write.

Recognizing that justice cannot be achieved without broad public support, the call for allies to join the event aims to foster understanding and strengthen the movement. This inclusive approach highlights the importance of collective efforts in ending the violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit persons.

The call has been issued to “Fill the Hill with Red” in Ottawa. Participants are encouraged to show their support by bringing songs, drums, and wearing red attire. This visual display of unity will serve as a powerful reminder of the lives impacted by violence.

Red Dress Day in Edmonton

Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton filled with groups of people on May 5, many ceremoniously dressed in beautiful ribbon skirts, as the families prepared to march along Jasper Avenue, the major thoroughfare, to call for justice and mourn their dead. Numbers swelled to 1,000 as the group moved to the street led by a truck carrying organizers with the megaphone; musicians Chubby Cree, drumming and singing, and by a motorcycle that roared to the front, covered with Indigenous identifiers. Taking up all the westward lanes, moving slowly, the crowd roared for justice, shouting vehement call and respond slogans such as:

No Pride in Genocide!
No More Stolen Sisters, Brothers, Fathers, Mothers, Babies, Children!
Not One More, Not One More!
Stop the Violence, Stop the Hate!
We Are Not Trash! We Are Human Beings! We Are Strong, Beautiful, Sacred Warriors!
Our People Are Not For Sale! Native Women Are Not For Sale!
What If It Was Your Mother, Sister, Father, Brother?
Our People Should Not Be Found In Landfills!

Beaver Hills Park was elaborately hung with gorgeous ceremonial and red dresses and tables organized for a feast as the crowd entered. An elder called a blessing for “all her relations,” then a powerful woman related how she had rescued herself from sexual exploitation in order to be strong in assisting her people. All who had lost a loved one were invited to come to the microphone. A large group gathered and as each person told the story of their beloved missing or dead relation, powerful emotions of pain, sadness, anger swept through those gathered to witness. As each concluded, they would call the name of the person and say “Never Forgotten!” The crowd echoed the remembrance.

Calgary Red Dress Day

Prince George

Photos below are taken outside the RCMP Detachment in Prince George, B.C. on May 5 at the beginning of the third annual 5km walk on May 5th on the occasion of National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and men. The march then went onward to Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.

September 21 Event

Toronto

12:00 pm
Gather at Native Canadian Centre, 16 Spadina Rd