Red Dress Day renews calls for Indigenous justice

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on May 6, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Public Library celebrated Red Dress Day Thursday to honour and remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Red Dress Day originated from the REDress Project conducted by artist Jaime Black on May 5, 2010 and has gathered the attention of many through the years.
“Today we had a presentation here at the library and we had an elder and we were joined by an artist who created a piece called Her Hands: a tribute to Anna Mae Pictou Aquash,” said Marilyn Contois, Indigenous services library technician at the Lethbridge Public Library.
To end the presentation those in attendance gathered for a friendship dance where they held hands and danced in a circle.
“I think that was a really good way to wrap this up today and I know it’s a heavy topic for a lot of people and you know it hits home for a lot of people, but coming together as a community and everybody is welcome here Indigenous or non-Indigenous, it was very nice, you could feel that unity when everybody held hands together and danced,” said Contois.  
While those in attendance were dancing, an artwork was displayed on the wall that was created by incarcerated women in tribute, honour and in memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and two-spirited that will be displayed in the library for the month of May along with any items borrowed from the public.
“We want to welcome everybody. If you have a red dress, or artwork, a faceless doll or anything that is in memory, or honour of, or to bring awareness to MMIWG, you are welcomed to bring it to the library,” said Contois.
She said the items will be displayed around the library and if people bring their items to the computer services area, there is a drop-off form that will help her determine who to return the items to. In that area visitors can also see displayed the painting Her Hands: A Tribute to Anna Mae Pictou Aquash by Debbie Kelman.
Kelman said she was inspired to paint her because the fact that the FBI cut off her hands has always had a profound effect on her.
“After I did the painting I stood back and I looked at it and I knew once I’ve seen it that I had to make the dress, it was a very powerful and spiritual experience making the dress,” said Kelman.
She said she painted the scarf and then had to look for one that matched the painting and was able to find one that matches it very well.
Kelman hopes that when people look at her painting they take the time to understand how horrible and terrible things that have happened, and continue to happen, to Indigenous women are.
“When I did that painting (in 2000), I’m not sure when the red dress movement came to be, but it is really interesting to me that I did that painting and there is the red dress movement now,” said Kelman.
Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson issued the following statement to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
“Alberta needs to be a place where everyone, including Indigenous Peoples, can live free from violence and be treated with dignity and respect. On Red Dress Day, I want families, loved ones and survivors to know we will honour those who are lost by working together to address this crisis.”
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