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Red Dress Day symbolizes remembrance for MMIWG2S+ at CFB Shilo

May 6, 2026

Cpl Maxime Proulx at 2018 Ex Heavy Loader Competition

A red dress, hand-sewn by Andrea Bourgeault, civilian co-chair of the CFB Shilo Defence Indigenous Advisory Group, hangs on the tipi outside base headquarters as a remembrance symbol of MMIWG2S+ on May 5, National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media

Red dresses mark remembrance and a call for justice to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and Two-Spirit  (MMIWG2S+)people, as commemorated at CFB Shilo on May 5.
More than 80 people gathered around the symbolic tipi at the headquarters building for an afternoon remembrance ceremony on the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, held annually.
In Canada, Indigenous women, girls and members of the 2SLGBTQQIA community face disproportionate acts of violence against them. Indigenous women account for less than five per cent of Canadian people but make up 24 per cent of female homicides.
Andrea Bourgeault, civilian co-chair of the Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG) at Shilo Base, addressed the crowd by sharing the context for why the nation should pause to recognize MMIWG2S+ and why the issues matter.
“Recognizing MMIWG2S+ is about honouring those who are missing or who have been taken, and about strengthening our collective understanding. It calls us to listen with respect, to learn from Indigenous voices, and to uphold our responsibilities in fostering safety, dignity, and inclusion.”
She explained that before settler contact, Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people were respected and held vital roles within their Nations.
“They were leaders, caregivers, teachers, healers, and knowledge keepers. In many communities, they were central to decision-making, family structures, and caring for the land. The health of the community was closely tied to the well-being of women.”
“Over time, colonization disrupted these relationships. Outside laws and systems diminished the status of Indigenous women, girls, and TwoSpirit people and weakened the protections that once existed. Understanding this history helps explain the conditions that contribute to the ongoing MMIWG2S+ crisis today,” she said.
Red Dress Day has been honoured since its inception by Metis artist Jaime Black in 2010 when she composed a Winnipeg exhibition of red dresses to emphasize the empty clothing as a powerful symbol of grief, absence and injustice. Red dresses are hung in significant visual places to call attention to the increasing rates of violence and abuse that Indigenous women experience.
“Indigenous women, girls, and TwoSpirit people have always been vital to their Nations and to the resilience of their communities. By acknowledging this history and acting with care and respect in our roles, we contribute to a safer, more inclusive future for all,” Bourgeault said.
Cpl Maxime Proulx at 2018 Ex Heavy Loader Competition

Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer Eric LeClair, Andrea Bourgeault, civilian co-chair of DIAG and Major Melissa Marshall, CFB Shilo Chief of Staff, led the Red Dress Day ceremonies outside base headquarters on May 5, National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. “Red Dress day is about reverence; it is also about awareness and action. It calls on us to listen with openness, to learn with humility, and to recognize the harm caused by violence, discrimination and indifference. It challenges us to reflect on how our daily actions and leadership can contribute to safety, dignity and inclusion. Here on the Base, we are committed to being a workplace in the community where respect is fundamental and where every person is treated with dignity. We are committed to supporting indigenous voices, honouring Indigenous cultures, and ensuring that our actions reflect the values we expect of ourselves as a defence team,” Maj. Marshall said.

(Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)

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