YORKTON – Hundreds gathered at the the Yorkton Tribal Council on King St. May 5 to take part in a walk in observation of Red Dress Day.
The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People is held each year to "raise awareness of the disproportionate number of Indigenous people who are impacted by gender-based violence," according to a media release from the Government of Saskatchewan.
The event in the park featured speeches from local politicians, chiefs of neighbouring First Nations, as well as speeches from family and friends directly affected by missing and murdered Indigenous women and two-spirit people.
"Today is a day of honouring our women that are missing...that are murdered right across Canada," said George Cote, Chief of Cote First Nation, in his address to the the crowd in Yorkton's City Centre Park.
"Not only in our nation but in other nations as well," added Cote, "it's affected by all nationalities."
"This is a moment for us to take the time to acknowledge how much we love one another, how much we care for one another," said Cote, "not only for our nation but for nations that we stand with in Canada."
"I want to address the systematic misogyny that goes on in our daily lives," said Chief Lynn Acoose from Zagimè Anishinabek First Nation, "it's systematic misogny that creates situations where women, girls, and two-spirited people are unsafe where they live and we need to acknowledge that this is not just our problem — this problem is systematic."
"You see it on social media, you see it in daily life, misogyny knows no colour boundaries," said Acoose, adding, "I have to say that in particular Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people are vulnerable due to the economic challenges that our people face in terms of housing, income and family support."
"Our children, our youth have had to experience fear and anxiety growing up...that's the reality of our children," said Acoose.
"It's unfortunate that we have to be here and put on an event like this," said YTC Chief Isabelle O'Soup, noting, "we can't just take one day out of the year to remember our murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls...we have to remember every day."
"Some of the families are still looking for their loved ones and we have to remember that and not let it to be pushed to the side...we need to educate our youth," said O'Soup.
"We acknowledge the harms and the mistakes and the injustices of the past and we are comitted to move forward in partnership with the indigenous nations in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration," said Mayor Mitch Hippsley during his address, later adding, "Red Dress Day is all about communication and recognizing what has happened and what is happening."
