While Red Dress Day has come and gone, the Chief of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc is asking people to continue to draw attention to missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women in Canada.

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says it is about remembering, honouring, and respecting the many families who have lost their loved ones.

“I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we all have a role and responsibility to assist in ending violence. We want to build a community and a nation that values all people and where all people can feel safe in their homes and in their communities,” she said.

“We want to honour and remember those that we have lost and extend heartfelt prayers to all of our relations who are still looking for closure.”

Casimir says she wants to see every level of government work to stop the violence against Indigenous women and girls in the country.

“We continue to call on the provincial and federal government to work with us to implement the MMIWG2S calls to action and continue advocating for a national action plan,” she added. “We need to work together to end the violence and create a healthier and safer future for our friends, our families, and our loved ones.”

“We need to end the gendered and racialized violent crimes against Aboriginal women.”

In Canada and the U.S., May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). It coincides with Red Dress Day, which was inspired by an art project by Jamie Black, a Metis woman, who used empty red dresses to evoke the missing women and girls.

There were ceremonies held across Canada on May 5 this year to remember the nearly 1,200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in the country.

Many of those ceremonies were held virtually or with restrictions in place for the second straight year because of COVID-19.

(Photo via BC Government)