Standing with Indigenous Communities on Red Dress Day
Each year on May 5, communities across Canada observe Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). It is a day of remembrance, reflection, and solidarity, honouring lives lost and recognizing the ongoing impacts on Indigenous families and communities.
At Western, we stand alongside Indigenous Peoples in recognition, respect, and action. In alignment with our Culture & Purpose strategy and through the work of Western Communities Foundation (WCF), we are committed to Standing with Indigenous Communities, raising awareness, supporting healing, and contributing to meaningful change through sustained learning and long-term support.
The Meaning Behind the Red Dress
The red dress is a nationally recognized symbol of the MMIWG2S crisis, brought to wider attention through the REDress Project by Métis artist Jaime Black. Red, which is believed to “call the spirit home”, and empty dress displays represent those taken too soon, the absence felt by families, and the stories we must not forget. By making what is too often unseen visible, the red dress asks all of us to keep our attention on the truth of this crisis.
Today, the red dress is both a memorial and a call to action, reminding us to listen, learn, and support Indigenous-led solutions. It also underscores the need to act on the truths shared by families, survivors, and communities, and to advance the Calls for Justice through ongoing commitment and accountability.
Supporting Indigenous Women‑Led Organizations Through C.A.R.E.
Through C.A.R.E., Western’s signature social purpose initiative, we’re raising funds with Western Communities Foundation for the Canadian Women’s Foundation, which supports women, girls, and gender-diverse people across Canada. This giving helps strengthen community-led work that promotes safety, dignity, and lasting change.
Funds support Indigenous women-led organizations responding to the MMIWG crisis through violence prevention, survivor-centred healing, culturally grounded supports, and community-led programs that address root causes and reduce risk.
Red Dress Day is a solemn reminder and a call to responsibility. By listening to Indigenous voices and supporting Indigenous-led solutions, we help honour lives lost and stand with those who continue to seek answers, safety, and justice. Today and beyond, may we remain committed to learning, showing up in respectful ways, and contributing to the changes Indigenous communities have long called for.
