Honouring Red Dress Day 

May 5, 2026

If you are affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people and need immediate emotional assistance, call 1-844-413-6649. You can also visit the Hope for Wellness Helpline and Chat Counselling Service for mental health and crisis intervention for Indigenous people: https://hopeforwellness.ca/home.html 

Today, CMHA WW joins communities across the province to honour Red Dress Day – the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S).  

Red Dress Day serves as a powerful reminder of the systemic violence and injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples. The red dress symbolizes the thousands of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit individuals who are missing or have been lost to violence — a loss felt deeply across generations.  

The ongoing crisis of MMIWG2S is closely tied to mental health. The trauma of violence, systemic discrimination and intergenerational impacts of colonialism have contributed to disproportionate rates of mental health challenges among Indigenous communities.  

At CMHA Waterloo Wellington, we recognize that healing and mental health must be rooted in cultural understanding, equity and community leadership. We are committed to supporting Indigenous-led initiatives and offering culturally appropriate mental health services. 

We stand in solidarity today and every day with Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.  

Ending the violence faced by Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people is not the work of a few, it demands all of us. True safety can only exist when entire communities challenge systems of harm and uplift Indigenous leadership. This collective responsibility means advocating for justice for victims, survivors and their families.  

For more information and resources, please visit the following links:

– Native Women’s Association of Canada- https://nwac.ca

– Ontario Native Womens Association- https://www.onwa.ca/

– Amnesty International Action Guide (https://amnesty.ca/activism-guide/red-dress-day-2024-take-action-on-may-5/)

– CMHA Ontario News (https://ontario.cmha.ca/news/honouring-red-dress-day-their-safety-is-our-shared-responsibility/)

– Ontario Nurses’ Association (https://ona.org/news/red-dress-day/)

Thank you for your support in honoring this important day.

On this day, we encourage everyone to reflect on the ongoing crisis of MMIWG2S, to listen to the voices of Indigenous peoples and to advocate for systemic changes that promote safety (both physical and mental) and justice. In line with this we wanted to highlight the following resources:  

13 Calls to Action for Change  

For decades, the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) has worked to end violence against Indigenous women. Their recommendations are well-informed, prioritize the health, safety and well-being of Indigenous women and their families and seek to ensure that no additional harm comes to Indigenous women.  

ONWA’s 13 recommendations were developed by combining research, community submissions and ONWA’s extensive expertise:  

1. Safety: Ensure safety for Indigenous women and girls in all communities. 

2. Health: Provide holistic, culturally relevant health services. 

3. Human Trafficking: Strengthen protections and interventions. 

4. Housing: Guarantee safe, affordable and accessible housing. 

5. Education: Increase awareness through Indigenous-informed curricula. 

6. Justice: Reform systems to better support Indigenous women and survivors. 

7. Economic Security: Enhance opportunities for financial independence and security. 

8. Culture: Protect, celebrate and revitalize Indigenous languages and traditions. 

9. Representation: Increase Indigenous women’s leadership in decision-making spaces. 

10. Child Welfare: Support Indigenous-led child welfare practices that prioritize families and communities. 

11. Data and Research: Collect Indigenous-informed, gender-based data. 

12. Allyship: Foster meaningful allyship and partnerships that uplift Indigenous leadership. 

13. Community-Driven Solutions: Centre Indigenous women’s voices in all solutions. 

We encourage everyone to review ONWA’s full recommendations here: Learn more.  

Here is the annual report that tracks Canada’s progress toward addressing the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. 

Resources:  

• National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls  

• Native Women’s Association of Canada