Here's how the 15th Red Dress Day is being marked in B.C.

Monday marks 15 years of Indigenous people and their allies gathering, marching and holding ceremony for the hundreds of Indigenous women and girls who are missing or have been murdered in Canada.

The national day of awareness and remembrance, known as Red Dress Day, was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black after she created the REDress project — an art installation of red dresses hanging in public spaces that serve as a visual reminder of the Indigenous women and girls who are no longer with us. 

Since 2010, Indigenous people and allies have taken part in the project — hanging red dresses, creating artwork, and marching together to remember loved ones and call those who are missing back home. 

According to the Government of Canada, 63 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. In 2023, Statistics Canada released a report showing that Indigenous women and girls were six times more likely to be murdered than other groups of people in Canada. 

The federal government launched the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls (MMIWG) in 2016. In the final report released in 2019, 231 calls to action were made along with findings of genocide against Indigenous peoples in Canada. 

Amnesty International, an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, says Red Dress Day matters because it "makes the invisible visible."

"Red Dress Day is a significant day," said Don Tom, chief of Tsartlip First Nation and vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC). 

"We must continue to bring awareness to ensure all Indigenous women are safe. It's a day to say we haven't forgotten the many women and girls whose lives have been taken too early. We demand justice and action on this day."

On Monday, the UBCIC and non-profit Justice for Girls will be making an announcement about the deaths of Tatyanna Harrison, Chelsea Poorman and Noelle O'Soup, alongside their families.

Harrison and Poorman were young Indigenous women, while O'Soup was an Indigenous teenager. Their bodies were found in Metro Vancouver within weeks of each other, in the spring of 2022.

Investigations into how the Vancouver Police Department handled the three cases are underway.

There are plenty of Red Dress Day events happening in B.C. this week. If you cannot make an event in person, wearing red is a sign of solidarity.

Find your local event here.

Abbotsford 

REDress Day & MMIWG2S+ awareness walk event

When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: 32203 South Fraser Way

Chase 

MMIWG walk and barbecue

When: Monday, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: 6443 Hillcrest Rd

Clearwater

MMIWG 5K walk or run 

When: Monday, 5 p.m. 
Where: 416 Eden Rd.

Comox Valley 

MMIWG2S+ awareness walk & event

When: Monday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 
Where: 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay

Fort St. John 

Red Dress Day 2025

When: Monday, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: 9523 100 St.

Golden

MMIWG2S awareness and solidarity walk

When: Monday, 9:30 a.m.
Where: 611 10th Ave. North

Hope 

Red Dress Day walk

When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: 6th Avenue Ball Park

Kamloops

Red Dress Day walk

When: Monday, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: 707 Tranquille Rd.

Red Dress Day event

When: Monday, 11 a.m.
Where: 357 Chief Alex Thomas Way

Kelowna 

Red Dress Day walk

When: Monday, 10:30 a.m.
Where: 442 Leon Ave.

Kitimat 

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples awareness gathering

When: Monday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: 606 Mountain Sq.

Haisla Nation Red Dress Day walk

When: Monday, 1 p.m.
Where: 500 Gitxsan Ave.

Lillooet

MMIWG2S+ event

When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: 780 Main St.

Lower Nicola Indian Band 

LNIB MMIW awareness walk

When: Monday, 10:30 a.m. 
Where: Lower Nicola Band Hall

New Westminster

Red Dress Day reflection

When: Monday, 3:15 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: 620 8th St.

Honouring MMIWG

When: Monday, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: 796 Columbia St.

North Okanagan

North Okanagan Friendship Centre

When: Monday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: 2904 29th Ave.

North Vancouver

Red Dress Day honouring ceremony

When: Monday, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: 147 East 12th St.

Pitt Meadows

Red Dress Day ceremony 2025

When: Monday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: 11985 Harris Rd.

Penticton

Red Dress Day

When: Monday, 11 a.m.
Where: 1099 Lakeshore Dr. West

Prince Rupert

Red Dress fashion event

When: Monday, 3 p.m. 
Where: Civic Centre Auditorium

Saulteau First Nations

MMIWG awareness day

When: Monday, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Crowfeathers

Seabird Island Band

Red Dress gathering

When: Monday, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Band office gym 

Tsawwassen First Nation

MMIWG2S 5K walk

When: Monday, 10 a.m.
Where: TFN Rec Centre, 1929 Tsawwassen Dr.

Vancouver

Dancing with Our Ancestors exhibit

When: Monday, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (exhibit opening), & May 5-19
Where: UBC Robson Square Sun Room, 800 Robson St

National Day of Awareness MMIW+

When: Monday, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: 1657 Charles St.

Victoria

Our Women are Sacred walk

When: Monday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: 2 Hallowell Rd.

Witset First Nation

Red Dress Day 2025

When: Monday, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Smithers RCMP station