Statement from Minister McLean on Red Dress Day

Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate Jeanie McLean has issued the following statement:

“Today, Yukoners join Canadians across the country to mark Red Dress Day – also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People.

“Since 2010 – when Metis artist Jaime Black first hung hundreds of red dresses to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women in her REDress Project art installation – this day has grown into a national day of awareness. Across the country, the hanging of red dresses outside homes and businesses, along with the many commemorative events and marches, serve as a solemn and urgent reminder of the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ (MMIWG2S+) people in our country.

“Today is an important opportunity for Canadians and Yukoners to hold up Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ people and demand an end to the violence they disproportionately face. It is a day where each of us can ask ourselves, what can I do as an individual that will contribute to the dismantling of systemic factors that are continuing to contribute to this crisis? What can I do to change the story for Indigenous women in the Yukon and Canada from a story of violence to a story of dignity, respect and justice?

"Our government is committed to changing the story. A key part of this work is our government’s involvement in the Yukon’s Missing Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People Strategy and Implementation Plan. This whole-of-Yukon strategy is founded on the advocacy of MMIWG2S+ families and survivors and brings together Yukon First Nations governments, Indigenous women’s organizations, the federal government and other organizations such as the RCMP in a shared commitment to change.

“The strategy includes 32 actions, 12 of which are priority action items, each with multiple milestones. As of October 2024, 52 per cent of milestones are in process, 11 per cent are ongoing, and 4 per cent have been completed. This progress is the result of collective effort and while we recognize there is still much more to be done, our government remains committed to realizing the strategy’s full implementation in partnership – and in a spirit of decolonization.

"We are grateful for the continued efforts of all the signatories to the strategy and to the families and survivors who guide this work with their strength, wisdom, and unwavering advocacy. While we still have much work to do, I remain inspired by the progress we have made and I am proud of the efforts of all those involved.

“I encourage all Yukoners to honour Red Dress Day in meaningful ways. In Whitehorse, I encourage residents to join in the events organized by the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle – to gather by the sacred fire, to join others in the MMIWG2S+ walk, to come together in healing and advocacy.

"From marches to community outreach to policy change, every step taken brings us closer to our shared vision: healthy, safe and violence-free communities where Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ Yukoners are respected, inherently valued and treated equitably with dignity and justice."