The Revolutions Red Dress Fashion Festival in Kamloops, British Columbia, features models wearing uniquely designed red dresses to make a powerful statement about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. Organized by Kim Coltman, a former model and survivor herself, the festival aims to honor Red Dress Day, which is the national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls observed annually on May 5. The eight designers participating in the festival have all been personally affected by this issue, and they have created items to pay tribute to the cause. Red Dress Day was inspired by Métis artist Jamie Black’s installation project, which involved hanging red dresses in public spaces as a visual reminder of the Indigenous women who have been killed or are missing.
Kim Coltman’s personal connection to the issue of violence towards Indigenous women and girls, including her own experience as a survivor and the impact of her mother being a residential school survivor, inspired her to create Fashion Speaks International in 2015. The organization produces fashion shows in various countries, including Canada, Australia, and France, to highlight Indigenous designers, models, and artists while also bringing attention to missing women through stories and photos. Coltman believes that watching Indigenous models hold their heads high as they walk the runway is powerful and breaks the behaviors instilled in Indigenous children who were forced to attend residential schools, where they were taught to be seen but not heard.
In Canada, Indigenous women and girls are significantly overrepresented as victims of violence, with the homicide rate among them being six times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts between 2009 and 2021, according to Statistics Canada. To address this issue, Canada and Manitoba announced a partnership for a Red Dress Alert system, which aims to inform the public when an Indigenous woman or girl is reported missing. This pilot project is expected to help inform a national alert system that will raise awareness and aid in locating missing individuals. Darlene Okemaysim-Sicotte, co-chair of Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik (Women Walking Together) in Saskatchewan, has been working for nearly two decades to end violence against Indigenous women and has supported many families of those who have disappeared.
Okemaysim-Sicotte emphasizes the power of red as a color that ancestors can see, making the placement of red garments in public spaces across the country significant. However, she also stresses the importance of looking beyond the dresses to the women they represent, ensuring that they are not forgotten. The red dress movement serves as a visual reminder of the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people, prompting communities to host walks, events, and educational gatherings to raise awareness and advocate for justice. By using fashion as a platform to amplify the voices of Indigenous women and bring attention to their stories, the Red Dress Fashion Festival and organizations like Fashion Speaks International play a crucial role in honoring and remembering those who have been impacted by this tragic issue.
