Red Dress Day: Observance held in advance of May 5 [Video]

In advance of National Red Dress Day on Sunday, May 5, the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition (OAC) held its own observance at City Hall Friday.

The day is meant to shine a light on the suffering of Indigenous women and girls in Canada, who have statistically been higher-than-average victims of violence, sexual assault, and murder. OAC officials say the reasoning behind holding an early event was to give attendees time to process the day’s meaning ahead of May 5.

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“I hope that people will walk away with an understanding and awareness of the severity of what First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, girls, and children have had to endure,” said OAC co-chair Stephanie (Mikki) Adams on Friday.

The Ottawa River Singers bookended the ceremony with a drum circle, while Indigenous leaders read opening prayers.

As attendees …