Observance at Ottawa City Hall meant to give time to process meaning of National Red Dress Day
In advance of National Red Dress Day on Sunday, May 5, the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition (OAC) held its own observance at City Hall Friday.
The day is meant to shine a light on the suffering of Indigenous women and girls in Canada, who have statistically been higher-than-average victims of violence, sexual assault, and murder. OAC officials say the reasoning behind holding an early event was to give attendees time to process the day's meaning ahead of May 5.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"I hope that people will walk away with an understanding and awareness of the severity of what First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, girls, and children have had to endure," said OAC co-chair Stephanie (Mikki) Adams on Friday.
The Ottawa River Singers bookended the ceremony with a drum circle, while Indigenous leaders read opening prayers.
As attendees crafted miniature red dresses to put up on poster boards, they were invited to present offerings to ones on display that bear the names of woman and girls who never made it home.
For event artist Orianna Elijah-Brown, who contributed seven dresses for the day, she says it was a difficult project to undertake.
"I was pretty down because I was listening to a lot of the stories of the some of the missing and murdered Indigenous women," Elijah-Brown recalled. "I heard stories similar to like myself - some of the girls were sewers and artists and it was really emotional listening to those stories while making the dresses."
At the far side of the venue was a gallery detailing the suffering and achievements of Indigenous peoples.
Photos detail the chronology, from settlers arriving on Turtle Island in the 15th century, to the systematic oppression of First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities, to the discovery of mass graves resulting from residential schools.
"It's touching me profoundly, actually, to see it, and I've known about it for a long time, but to actually see images like that is very powerful," said resident Liz Wigfull.
"It really speaks to what people have suffered over such a long time," said Wendy Muckle. "It's hard to imagine how long it's going to take us to make it right."
While the day highlighted the nation's dark history, it also focused on the healing work that has been accomplished in the community, including the establishing of the Indigenous Women's Safety Table.
"You've got community leadership happening here in Ottawa, where the local Indigenous community comes together and works collectively towards building Ottawa to be a safer place," said Ontario Native Women's Association CEO Cora McGuire-Cyrrette.
----------
Hope for Wellness Help Line 24/7 1-855-242-3310
National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
Mental Health Crisis Line (24 hours a day/7 days a week) at 613-722-6914 or if outside Ottawa toll-free at 1-866-996-0991
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.K. prime minister calls national election for July 4
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a national election on Wednesday, naming July 4 as the date for a vote his governing Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
Fish oil supplements may raise risk of stroke, heart issues, study suggests
As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay.
Private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore listed for $15.8M
A private island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore has been listed for sale with a $11.5-million USD price tag.
DEVELOPING Blood vial delivery prompts evacuation of Republican headquarters in Washington
The Republican National Committee's headquarters in Washington was briefly evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police and the RNC said.
'Happy tears' of victim's sister after prison attack on serial killer Robert Pickton
Cynthia Cardinal said she was 'overwhelmed' with happiness when she received a text message on Monday with the news that serial killer Robert Pickton, who murdered her sister, was attacked in prison. She called it 'karma.'
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
'On the edge of failing': Most of Canada gets a 'D' on poverty report cards
Poverty and food insecurity have worsened in most of Canada in the past year and most provincial governments aren't doing enough to address the problem, according to a just-released series of report cards.
World's most expensive feather sells at New Zealand auction
A feather from a long-extinct New Zealand bird has set a record after selling for $46,521 NZD (about US$28,400), the auction house handling the sale has said.