Indigenous women and girls make up less than 5% of the Canadian
population but represent approximately 24% of all homicide victims. They are 12x more likely to be murdered. Over 60% of Indigenous women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

A Statistics Canada report showed that 56% of Indigenous women experience intimate partner violence, more than double the rate for non-Indigenous people.
—Amnesty International

https://archive.org/details/missing_202604

THE MEANING OF THE RED DRESS

The MMIW Red Dress Project is a symbol of awareness and remembrance for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic that has plagued indigenous communities across North America. This powerful movement began in 2010 with Canadian artist Jaime Black’s installation, which featured red dresses hung in public spaces to draw attention to the staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls. Since then, it has become a global movement advocating for justice, recognition, and action to address this crisis.

The choice of red dresses as the central motif of this project holds deep significance. Red symbolizes both the bloodshed and the resilience of Indigenous women and girls who have been victimized and marginalized. The dresses tell the story of a missing sister, mother, daughter, or friend whose absence leaves a void in their communities. By placing red dresses in public spaces, the project demands that these stories be seen and heard, challenging society to confront the systemic issues that perpetuate violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) is a silent phenomenon. These women and girls not only disappear physically, but their experiences with violent victimization are often absent from data and media reports.

May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness and Action for MMIWG. In commemoration, UNCW annually provides a platform to raise awareness about this silent crisis and gender-based violence, both inside and outside the classroom. (US)

Since 2021, UNCW’s awareness-raising events have included the Red Dress Project, panel discussions to empower Indigenous women to speak out against gender-based violence, and solidarity walks and candlelight vigils to foster healing, education, and justice. Students also develop research and documentation projects around the stories of victims and survivors, contributing to a growing body of work and understanding of this issue.

#Missing; #murdered; #Indigenous; #Native; Women; Flyer Designer~ Nadia Ahmed;