The red dresses: A symbol for missing and murdered women

Until May 2nd, outside the Touchstones Museum of Art and History, near the City Hall in Nelson, Canada, passersby pause to observe red dresses hanging from tree branches, fluttering with each gust of wind.

Some of these dresses are in good condition, others show signs of wear and tear, reflecting the lives of older and younger women who once wore them. These women, Native Canadians, have either disappeared or were murdered in a society that exhibits the highest rates of violence against any cultural group in Canada and the United States.

Indigenous families and communities have been striving for generations to change a colonial system that remains in place, a system that often lets the perpetrators of violence go unpunished.

The installation, known as Red Dresses (REDRESS), is a public art project by Jamie Black, a scientist and artist with a keen interest in feminism and social justice, particularly between Indigenous people and Canadian society.

Through her work, she seeks to give a voice to movements fighting for the protection of women. The families of MMIWG (missing or murdered indigenous women and girls) are central to this work. With her red dresses, she provides a platform for these families to share their stories and honour their loved ones.

“Indigenous women are the heart of our cultures and communities on Turtle Island. For thousands of years, women have been at the centre of the circle, creating balance and harmony in our communities,” says Jamie Black. “Since women and girls have been targeted to disrupt the Native community, I made the decision to shed light on their stories and in doing so, call upon their spirits. It’s a political and spiritual installation and a way to learn their stories and hear their voices.”

The museum hopes that this significant work will illuminate the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered women and girls, a tragedy that transcends gender and touches the very essence of human rights.

Thousands of women disappear, go missing or are murdered. Black was inspired by a demonstration she witnessed in Bogota in 2010, where women listed their missing and murdered family members while wearing red dresses to draw attention.

The evidence is tragic.

In the United States, homicide ranks as the third leading cause of death among Native women aged between 10 and 24, according to the National Institutes of Health. The US Department of Justice further reveals that Native women are murdered at a rate more than ten times the national average.

Similarly alarming statistics are found in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women are seven times more likely to fall victim to serial killers than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

These figures are indicative of systemic racism. Black, the activist spearheading this research, hopes her work will amplify the voices of these Indigenous women and raise awareness among those who may be oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

The REDress Project at the National Museum of the American Indian