Names sought for project honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on April 15, 2025.

Submitted photo - Yvette McKenna, Lox MacMillan-Metatawabin and Cassidy Mckellop read an Indigenous poetry book by Julie Lush (a local Indigenous poet to PEI)

A recent business graduate from the White Bear First Nation in Prince Edward Island is honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across North America, traditionally known as Turtle Island, through a cape with cones of names from those who have lost loved ones.

Lox MacMillan-Metatawabin, lead of the project, which she named The Silent Jingle, says the idea came to her about two years ago during a brainstorming session on Post-it notes.

“The vision came right there when we were just coming up with ideas and I was like ‘it could be red, it could signify missing and murdered Indigenous women and two-Spirit.”

She says the name alludes to the voices which aren’t able to share what happened to them, along with commemorating Indigenous history of jingle dresses.

The Silent Jingle features a red, velvet-like cape with red jingle cones, engraved with a name of a MMIWG2S, which will be hand-sewn and blessed by an Elder.

Almost 70 names have been submitted for the piece so far, and submissions of loved ones’ names are continuing to be accepted.

Macmillan-Metatawabin says the first name she received for the artwork was a very emotional moment for her.

“The day we got the very first jingle it was very emotional to see,” she says. “Right there, that’s all that mattered, if it was just one jingle, because that’s just one person being acknowledged.”

Her mission went viral via social media, gaining over 70,000 views in their first week.

Submissions of names for the unveiling will be accepted until April 22. However, Macmillan-Metatawabin says it is a “living art piece,” meaning names can be added after the original event.

The unveiling of The Silent Jingle will take place at Indigenous P.E.I. as well as live-streamed on TikTok and Facebook.

The evening will begin with prayers along with speakers who will touch on the importance of the MMIWG2S initiative and then the model will walk through the silent crowed with the only sound being from the jingles of the cape.

The initiative was brought together by 10 volunteers including Yvette Mckenna designing the dress, Deidra Cameron who is organizing the event, and Elder Doreen Jenkins, along with many others providing support and skills to make it happen.

Macmillan Metatawabin says it wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s support.

Name submissions for the dress, along with relation to the name, can be sent to TheSilentJingle@gmail.com