Many gathered to show support for this year’s Red Dress Day event in Courtenay.
Red Dress Day is a day aimed at reinforcing the need to end violence against Indigenous people, with the red dress, inspired by Metis artist Jaime Black, being a symbol of loss for women, girls, and 2SLBTQIA+ people who have been murdered or are missing in Canada.
This afternoon saw a Red Dress Day Event at the Florence Filberg Centre, which saw several residents attend, where speakers shared their stories, a moment of silence, and community education.
The event was organized by the Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society in collaboration with K’omoks First Nation, Wachaiy Friendship Centre, MIKI’SIW Métis Association, Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society, and individuals like city mayor Bob Wells and Ramona Johnson.
A national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in 2019 delivered 231 calls for Justice, but Executive Director of the Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society Patti Alvarado says women continue to become victims.
“This needs to stop,” said Alvarado. “We need to stand up for our relatives, our communities, and we need to demand action and advocacy. When a survivor tells you they have been harmed, it’s very important for you to believe them.”
Alvarado says we should not dismiss or blame the victim, adding today is a day to uplift all survivors and their families and honour the truth.
Knowledge Keeper Daryle Mills says this day isn’t just about the missing women, but it’s also about justice for those who did the crimes and caused harm to Indigenous communities.
“Everybody here is on the same page, we have the same vision, it’s the justice part we need more help with, and that comes from the colonized world,” said Mills.
“We get some justice so that there’s some deterrence. A good person will do a bad thing if they can get away with it and it happens all the time. That’s where our people are, and that’s what’s happened to them.”
Mills says the vision is to make the world and communities so safe that children won’t have to experience trauma and do their healing work.
The event concluded with a walk downtown.
