INDIGEO VOLO

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA individuals. It is a shocking, disturbing and deeply saddening fact that they are 12 times more likely than any other demographic group in Canada to be murdered or to go missing. Source

Why is it called Red Dress Day?

The project was initially started by Métis artist Jamie Black, and a conversation with her Indigenous friend led her to choose the colour red: “(Red) is really a calling back of the spirits of these women and allowing them a chance to be among us and have their voices heard through their family members and community.” Source

INDIGEO VOLO would like to take a moment of silence to recognize and mourn the loss of each and every woman and 2SLGBTQIA individual; some we may have known, and the countless we did not. Each one was a life taken needlessly, and the world is a darker place for having lost their light.

We cannot sit idly and let this cycle of violence and abuse perpetuate. Each and every one of us must be active against, and speak out against something that impacts us all. This month we raised $185 dollars for the Moose Hide Campaign, which is an Indigenous-led grassroots movement of men, boys and all Canadians that are standing up to end violence against women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA individuals. We’ll be handing out the pins at our later events, which in themselves are known to generate 10 conversations on the topic.

While we can’t do everything to change the world, we believe that with small steps we can work collectively to make it a better place.

To find out more information, and ways you can help, or to look for a missing or murdered Indigenous woman and 2SLGBTQQIA individuals, please visit this list of resources from the University of British Columbia.