Hundreds of kids covered Goldstream Avenue in a sea of red on Monday.
On May 5, otherwise known as Red Dress Day, students from Ruth King, Savory and David Cameron elementary, along with Spencer and Centre Mountain Lellum middle school students, marched through the heart of Langford, drumming and chanting. Their goal: to spread the word and to recognize Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
“The concept is to raise awareness in the district with young people around the legacy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2S people,” said Kendre Gage, executive director of the Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, which has collaborated with SD62 since 2023 to host a Red Dress Day march.
“The idea is to raise awareness so kids understand that this unfortunately continues to be an issue and that we can support the community in honouring their loved ones who have passed away or haven’t been found.”
The groups of students and other supporters congregated at Veterans Memorial Park in Langford, where students, SD62 representatives and Elders spoke on the legacy of those who were missing and murdered.
Two of those students were Ruth King’s Avery MacDonald and Arlene Azak-Thomas. In the lead-up to their speech, the girls each had moments of nervousness and excitement, but just a few minutes before the march began, MacDonald beamed, saying she was excited to speak.
“We walk together on Red Dress Day. We carry more than just steps – we carry love, remembrance and a powerful message: every Indigenous woman, girl and two-spirit person matters,” MacDonald said as she practised her speech.
“The red dress symbolizes the women who were taken too soon and the voices that were silenced. The red dresses we see around us are not just symbols – they are empty places left behind by those who are missing or have been taken.”
Azak-Thomas prepared to read a poem at the march called Red Dress.
“The red dress, a dress that dances in the breeze, but no one’s there, just quiet trees. It tells a tale of someone dear whose laughter once we used to hear,” Azak-Thomas read.
“We wear red not just to see, but to say, 'You still matter to me.' With every step, with every song, we help their spirits travel on.”
The girls were partially taught by Gramma Clifton, an Elder who runs an SD62 drumming program at many schools in the district.
MacDonald and Azak-Thomas said they had fun learning with Gramma Clifton, but the material was heavy.
“It was fun, but sometimes it was sad because I feel bad for the people that have been killed,” said MacDonald.
While the subject is tragic at any age, to Gramma Clifton, kids are the most important people to reach when it comes to spreading the word of Red Dress Day.
“The reason that we do this is to bring awareness to the kids. For one thing, safety is a real issue, and they need to understand that anyone can go missing,” she said.
“But the reason we want them to be aware is because when Indigenous women go missing, nobody follows through to find those women.”
“This is to bring them awareness that everybody is important, and we need to continue the search for these women and bring their families some closure. It’s important to understand that we’re just as important as everyone else.”
In Canada, Indigenous people make up only four per cent of the population, yet Indigenous women account for 16 per cent of female homicide victims and 11 per cent of missing women.
Red Dress Day was first commemorated in 2010, inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette’s REDress Project, an art installation that featured several red dresses hung in public to remind passersby of Canada’s many missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
Ruth King began hosting the march each year in collaboration with Savory Elementary with the goal of spreading awareness.
“Some people don’t even know what Red Dress Day is,” said Vicki Ives, Ruth King’s principal.
“We’re just trying to get awareness out there for people, because some people know and some don’t.”
So far, it seems to be working, as the event has welcomed new schools and supporters each year. Ives says the event has even allowed her to educate her own staff on Red Dress Day at times.
The kids seem to be enjoying it as well.
“Thank you for listening and keep learning and showing the world what love and justice look like,” said Azak-Thomas as she addressed the crowd.
“Have a beautiful day and remember the Indigenous women who fought for their lives.”
