(Toronto, ON – May 5, 2023) – Today, Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare issued a statement on Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Gender Diverse People (MMIWG2S).

“This year, on May 5, we continue the annual tradition of marking Red Dress Day and the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “Today, I encourage everyone to join us as we wear red, and red dresses are hung, to commemorate and honour the lives of our women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who have been lost and taken from us.”

In Federal Budget 2023, released on March 28, 2023, Canada proposed an additional $124.7 million, to be dispersed over a various number of years, to accelerate the implementation of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. These investments build upon the previously committed $2.2 billion allocated in Budget 2021 and aim to acknowledge the leadership of families and survivors in this process.

On May 2, 2023, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion declaring the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people a national emergency. The motion, tabled by NDP MP Leah Gazan, also included a call to provide immediate and substantial investment in a red dress alert system to help notify the public when an Indigenous woman, girl or two-spirit person goes missing.

“I look forward to supporting this work as it takes place and I echo the calls to Canada to declare the MMIWG2S epidemic a national emergency. It has been nearly four years since the release of Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It is time that we see meaningful implementation of recommendations in this report as Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are still continuing to face violence and danger at excruciating rates across the country.

I commit to continuing this important work alongside the federal and provincial governments, and to ensure that the important conversations are being had. I also stand with and support our First Nations Women’s Council for their work in calling attention to this issue, as well as those who are holding events and attending gatherings today to address and honour the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S. I encourage all to attend one of the many events or vigils occurring to honour the lives and memories of all the Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and their loved ones.”

Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare

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The Chiefs of Ontario supports all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ChiefsOfOntario.

Media Contact:

Christopher Hoyos
Director of Policy and Communications
Policy and Communications Sector
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: (416) 579 4998
Email: Chris.Hoyos@coo.org