Members and supporters of Bancroft’s Indigenous Community walked through the town drumming and singing Friday morning.
When they hit Millennium Park they gathered around the pebble mosaic for a smudging ceremony, ate strawberries for healing and held a moment of silence. After, some of the roughly 30 people shared hugs and shed tears.
It was to mark Red Dress Day. Many Canadians now wear red and hang red dresses in public places on the day to express concern that a disproportionate number of missing persons and murder cases in Canada are linked to Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.
Diane Martin, of the Algonquin Inodewiziwin Centre, says public displays like this are important to raise awareness.
“We still need to educate people that this is a crisis in Canada,” she said. “It’s still ongoing; there are still Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited Indigenous women that go missing on a regular basis. I think it’s important that we still bring awareness and have demonstrations that are peaceful.”
Martin says we can play a role in addressing the crisis, by writing letters to politicians that express our concern and holding Red Dress Day ceremonies every year, to ensure “the women are not forgotten.”