On Monday, May 5, join the Athabasca Tribal Council, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and Wood Buffalo Pride at Kiyām Community Park in Fort McMurray for the Red Dress Solidarity Walk & Memorial Round Dance — a powerful day of remembrance, awareness, and unity. This event honours the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit+ People — a time to gather in community, amplify Indigenous voices, and advocate for long-overdue justice and systemic change.

Red Dress Day, observed annually on May 5, is a solemn reminder of the violence, neglect, and systemic injustice disproportionately impacting Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people across Canada. The image of the red dress has become a symbol of the lives taken and the silence that often follows. It compels us to listen, to learn, and to act.

Indigenous people continue to face significantly higher rates of violence, exploitation, and disappearance. These injustices are deeply rooted in the legacies of colonialism, racism, and intergenerational trauma. Red Dress Day is not only about remembrance — it is about resilience, resistance, and reaffirming Indigenous people's inherent worth, dignity, and rights.

We stand in solidarity with families and communities who live with this grief every day. Our trauma-informed approach at Waypoints recognizes the compounded barriers Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals face when navigating systems that are too often dismissive or inaccessible. Advocacy must go hand-in-hand with allyship — grounded in respect, accountability, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Honouring the lives lost requires more than remembrance — it requires meaningful action. It means confronting uncomfortable truths, supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, and contributing to a future where every person can live free from violence, fully seen and valued in their community.

To learn more about the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & 2SLGBTQI+ People, visit www.mmeip.ca or the Government of Alberta – Red Dress Day