Tay Township lowers flag to honour Canada’s Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S)
May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day.
To honour this day, flags at the Township Municipal Office have been lowered. Red dresses have also been displayed outside the Municipal Office as a visible reminder of those who are missing and those who are no longer with us. The installation will remain in place until May 11, 2026.
Red Dress Day began with a 2010 exhibition by Metis artist Jaime Black, who wanted to create a visual representation of the large number of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people and the disproportionate physical, emotional and sexual violence they have experienced. The movement quickly spread and now red dresses are hung across North America annually on May 5.
On Red Dress Day, and every day, we honour the lives and legacies of MMIWG2S by listening to their stories and commemorating their strength and spirits. We stand in solidarity with the families and communities who continue in the pursuit of justice, healing, and change.
Additional Resources:
If you, or someone you know is experiencing signs of distress don't hesitate to reach out to services available 24/7/365:
- Hope for Wellness Help Line (Indigenous centered): 1-855-242-3310
- Crisis Services Canada: (Canada-wide) 9-8-8
- National Family and Survivors Circle: 1-844-413-6649