National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People

The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day, is on May 5, 2024.

The day honours and brings awareness to the thousands of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people who have faced disproportionate violence in Canada.

The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action report identified 94 steps to address the legacy of residential schools in Canada. Call to Action 41 addresses the violence toward Indigenous women and girls and calls for a public inquiry into the crisis. Although complete, Call to Action 41 has an ongoing action plan to deliver 231 calls to justice that need to be tracked and reported on.

Call to Action 41

We call upon the federal government, in consultation with Aboriginal organizations, to appoint a public inquiry into the causes of, and remedies for, the disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and girls. The inquiry’s mandate would include:

Investigation into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.
Links to the intergenerational legacy of residential schools.

“We stand solid in our commitment to the families who are still impacted by these horrific crimes and to bring awareness and education to the public. We can’t change the past, but we can certainly change the future for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals who have been devastated by violence or are still missing. We need to be a voice for those we’ve lost and a strength to those who are left behind. For Survivors, we need to continue to create safe spaces that allow them to tell their story.”

Ogimma-kwe Claire Sault
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

Recognition in the City

Dimming the clock tower

May 5, 2024 | 8 p.m. | Celebration Square

The Civic Centre clock tower will be dimmed on the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People.

Learn more about this dimming

Every Child Matters flag half-masting

May 5, 2024 | 9 a.m. | Celebration Square

The City will lower the Every Child Matters flag at Celebration Square to half-mast to recognize the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People. The flag will stay at half-mast for 24 hours.

Help for victims and survivors

If you are a victim or survivor of human trafficking, call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1‑833-900-1010.

More resources

Learn more about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People, Truth and Reconciliation and the calls to action by visiting the following resources: