Peguis First Nation marked Red Dress Day on May 5, 2026, by hosting a community event to raise awareness and honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. The event took place from 4 pm to 7 pm at Maamawibiway – Peguis Child and Family Services.
Red Dress Day serves as a national day of remembrance and activism across Canada. The annual observance is rooted in the work of Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette, who created the REDress Project in 2010. By using empty red dresses as an art installation, the project visually represents the ongoing crisis of violence faced by Indigenous women and girls.
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization, which represents 33 Anishinaabe and Dakota First Nations in southern Manitoba, is coordinating events across its member Nations, including Peguis. According to national data, Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women, and they represent approximately 24 percent of all homicide victims despite making up less than 5 percent of the Canadian population.
As the largest First Nation community in Manitoba, Peguis First Nation continues to participate in these observances under the leadership of Chief Dr. Stan Bird. Residents are encouraged to attend these events to support impacted families and advocate for continued action on the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.
