Warrant Officer Sylvain Leblanc of the CFB Shilo Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG) hangs a red dress on the GSH fence as an act of remembrance to MMIWG2S+ commemorated on Red Dress Day, being observed on Base May 3. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media

As the red dresses pinned to fences and hanging from trees wave a salute of colour around CFB Shilo, the nation mourns the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited (MMIWG2S) victims on Red Dress Day, May 5.

Red Dress Day is the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S, and at CFB Shilo, it will be commemorated on May 3. Canadian Armed Forces members will wear red shirts under their uniforms, and civilian staff and families are encouraged to wear red to support the movement.

“Dangling limply on hangers without women to wear them, the dresses are visual reminders of the thousands of missing Indigenous people in Canada,” Private Angele Le Blanc of the Shilo Defence Indigenous Advisory Group stated on May 1.

“The dresses have come to symbolize the issue and crisis. Red dresses are also used as a symbol of honour at places like the Winnipeg landfill where First Nations’ women’s bodies were recently found,” she stated.

LeBlanc said it is significant that the CAF recognizes the crisis and is pleased to see increased awareness across the country around the issues.

The immortalized garments make a memorial statement hung around CFB Shilo outside 2 PPCLI, 1 RCHA, and on the fence outside General Strange Hall.

Deputy Commanding Officer of 2 PPCLI, Major Jeff Tebo, said the Red Dress Initiative incorporates some Indigenous traditions into the Battalion.

He said many Indigenous elements such as tipis and sharing circles, are already fused into the daily routines and administrative acts.

“The idea is to ensure that it’s genuine, not forced, and just part of our day-to-day rhythm. Red Dress Day is a good example of that.”

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.

“I think everyone who signed up for the Military wants to defend Canadians and children especially. And because, in this case, many people have been victims of violence, this is the type of thing we’d want to stand against. We do that physically as infantry soldiers, but we’d also do it spiritually and emotionally in the community.”

The first Red Dress Day was in March 2010 when Metis artist Jaime Black composed an art installation, REDress Project in Winnipeg of hundreds of red dresses hung in public places to represent the thousands of MMIWG2S+.

“Through the REDress project, the spirits of the missing or murdered women and girls stand with us here today, giving us courage, strength and clarity, leading us forward on the path to REclaim our sovereignty as Indigenous women,” Black said at the time of the March 2011 opening of the continuing art installation at the Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg.

Warrant Office Sylvain Leblanc, Private Angele Leblanc, Deputy Commander of 2PPCLI Major Jeff Tebo and Tricia Harpe of DIAG hang red dresses  Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News

Tricia Harpe of DIAG and Pt. Angele Leblanc hang dresses for Red Dress Day. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)

Tricia Harpe of DIAG and Pt. Angele Leblanc hang dresses for Red Dress Day. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)