Red Dress Day renews calls for Indigenous justice
By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on May 6, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com
The Lethbridge Public Library celebrated Red Dress Day Thursday to honour and remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Red Dress Day originated from the REDress Project conducted by artist Jaime Black on May 5, 2010 and has gathered the attention of many through the years.
“Today we had a presentation here at the library and we had an elder and we were joined by an artist who created a piece called Her Hands: a tribute to Anna Mae Pictou Aquash,” said Marilyn Contois, Indigenous services library technician at the Lethbridge Public Library.
To end the presentation those in attendance gathered for a friendship dance where they held hands and danced in a circle.
“I think that was a really good way to wrap this up today and I know it’s a heavy topic for a lot of people and you know it hits home for a lot of people, but coming together as a community and everybody is welcome here Indigenous or non-Indigenous, it was very nice, you could feel that unity when everybody held hands together and danced,” said Contois.
While those in attendance were dancing, an artwork was displayed on the wall that was created by incarcerated women in tribute, honour and in memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and two-spirited that will be displayed in the library for the month of May along with any items borrowed from the public.
“We want to welcome everybody. If you have a red dress, or artwork, a faceless doll or anything that is in memory, or honour of, or to bring awareness to MMIWG, you are welcomed to bring it to the library,” said Contois.
She said the items will be displayed around the library and if people bring their items to the computer services area, there is a drop-off form that will help her determine who to return the items to. In that area visitors can also see displayed the painting Her Hands: A Tribute to Anna Mae Pictou Aquash by Debbie Kelman.
Kelman said she was inspired to paint her because the fact that the FBI cut off her hands has always had a profound effect on her.
“After I did the painting I stood back and I looked at it and I knew once I’ve seen it that I had to make the dress, it was a very powerful and spiritual experience making the dress,” said Kelman.
She said she painted the scarf and then had to look for one that matched the painting and was able to find one that matches it very well.
Kelman hopes that when people look at her painting they take the time to understand how horrible and terrible things that have happened, and continue to happen, to Indigenous women are.
“When I did that painting (in 2000), I’m not sure when the red dress movement came to be, but it is really interesting to me that I did that painting and there is the red dress movement now,” said Kelman.
Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson issued the following statement to honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
“Alberta needs to be a place where everyone, including Indigenous Peoples, can live free from violence and be treated with dignity and respect. On Red Dress Day, I want families, loved ones and survivors to know we will honour those who are lost by working together to address this crisis.”
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The fact that there have been so many murdered and missing Indigenous women is very sad and I am not trying to take away from the seriousness of this, but there are several points I want to make that will not be taken well by some, but is truthful and in many cases from observations made while on or near First Nations Communities across this country.
The reference to Anna Mae Pictou’s hands been cut off was common back in those days in serious cases when identifying remains for NON-First Nations as well, not just this poor woman’s case. I remember those years well and the AIM blaming the FBI falsely for many different things, including the death of Nelson Small Legs in Brocket, Alberta. AIM blamed the FBI and the FBI blamed AIM, but in fact, Nelson committed suicide after dressing up in First Nations regalia. I knew Nelson Small Legs and his brother Devilon. Nelson was a good young man.
My understanding from the report from deep investigations for the MMIWG was that many of the deaths were from First Nations against other First Nations and another important factor was that police always faced a ‘wall of silence’ when investigating missing or murdered First Nations, hindering efforts.
The lifestyle is very much a major factor to many of the problems and until they decide to make changes, like other bands like the Osoyoos band in BC, they will never rid themselves of the issues. It all starts in the home, which means it starts with the family heads!
If there is to be change, then each one needs to take responsibility for their own lives and stop blaming the world for their plight! Has anyone accused them for their crimes against the settlers that continued after treaties were signed in the 1870’s? No! Those crimes, horrendous crimes were why the settlers responded the way they did to protect themselves. Many mistakes and crimes were committed on both sides!
I have not sat down to calculate the high cost of all the treaty’s since they were signed, but would guess they must be hundreds of billions paid to the First Nations over the years, but I do not that right now we are paying out close to $17 billion annually without the $40 billion for one thing and $18 billion for another or all the other extra payments.
Canada is over $1.3 trillion in debt and climbing with a world at war and that gravy train is just not sustainable anymore. Trudeau writes checks like money is limitless and we are facing tough times.
I take the time to reflect to these events, but it is really getting old that it appears to be in our faces almost daily. A walk in the coulees to meditate a few weeks ago found a red dress in a tree by a path and that is upsetting to me! People will only get mad if it is always in their faces. It takes away from the seriousness of the day to reflect and it appears to be trying to take over every one of our long weekend holidays as well.
The lifestyle, which mostly was in their communities, was a major factor in this and change must be made from within their communities!