A participant paints her hand red before adding her print to a collaborative art piece during Brock University’s REDress Day event on Friday, Feb. 14. The handprints symbolized a commitment to learn more about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people.More than 60 people gathered to mark REDress Day at Brock University on Friday, Feb. 13 with a morning of reflection, learning and community in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+).
Hosted by Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre and the Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, in collaboration with Niagara College, the event was part of the REDress Project.
The initiative began in 2011 as an art installation by Métis artist Jaime Black at the University of Winnipeg.
Speakers included Grandmother Jackie Labonte, Aria D’Alimonte, Shyann Jenkins and Marie-Louise Bowering, who shared personal reflections and discussed the significance of the red dress as a symbol of loss and remembrance.
The gathering featured drumming and song, group discussions and a jingle dress dance demonstration by Brock student Kaylin Proutx-VanEvery and her mother, Charlotte VanEvery.
Participants also contributed red handprints to a collaborative art piece symbolizing a commitment to learn more about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people.
Red dresses will continue to be displayed at Brock campuses and at Niagara College until Wednesday, Feb. 18 to commemorate the thousands of MMIWG2S+ people lost to colonial violence.
