A weeklong display of empty red dresses and a day of activities at Brock University will honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.<\/p>\n
The REDress Project began as an art installation by M\u00e9tis artist Jaime Black at the University of Winnipeg in 2011 to signify the loss of thousands of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit, lesbian, gay, trans, bisexual, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGTBQQIA) people over the past 40 years to colonial violence.<\/p>\n
Now in its fifth year at Brock, the display will see dresses hung indoors and outdoors across the University\u2019s main campus and Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts from Monday, Feb. 13 to Friday, Feb. 17.<\/p>\n
Brock\u2019s Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement Robyn Bourgeois said it remains critical to raise awareness about violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in gender-based violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to disappear and be murdered across Turtle Island, and Canadian governments have done little to implement the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,\u201d she said. \u201cWe remain unsafe, so we must continue to demand justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
To further raise awareness, a day of activities will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14 in Brock\u2019s Pond Inlet to honour and remember those who were impacted by colonial violence.<\/p>\n
Taking place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the gathering will feature a traditional song from Bourgeois, art displays and workshops, where participants will learn to make beaded medicine pouches, M\u00e9tis sash bookmarks, beaded red dress earrings and seal skin bracelets. While the workshops are currently full, organizers will engage additional participants as resources allow.<\/p>\n