Red Dress Day

In honour and gratitude to Indigenous partners

Red Jingle Dress, Ontario Native Women’s Council

On Red Dress Day , I want to honour two vital aspects of our Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

The first is remembrance of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People. The many mothers, sisters, aunties and daughters, gone too soon. This is embedded in the nature of our colonial history, and the disproportionate violence inflicted on whole peoples over generations.

The second is active witnessing of the indomitable spirit of life, survival and creativity, symbolized by this beautiful red jingle dress.

This spirit has been there from before the beginning. I remember the earliest fur trading partnerships, our courageous warrior allies in the War of 1812 and ever since. I acknowledge contemporary leadership in resource management and land conservation and stewardship. Not to mention the current reminder that Alberta and much of Canada sits on Indigenous Treaty lands! For a more in-depth view on our inter-twined history, check out Darcy McNeil ‘s excellent series “Canada is a Braid of Three Threads”.

Reconciliation has Two Arms

I offer these perspectives as two arms of reconciliation. Truth telling, regret and remorse for the past. And acknowledging the strengths and vitality which will be essential for our future. Organizations like RBC in their thought leadership series are pointing out the obvious, that Indigenous leadership and equity will be an essential source of strength for Canada. Organizations like Indspire who invest in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.

Canada is engaged in the tough and ongoing lessons of reconciliation and engaging with diversity on so many fronts. May these lessons show the way forward for a world in painful transition.