Minister’s Statement on Red Dress Day

May 5, 2025

Today, May 5, is Red Dress Day, a day we honour and remember the lives of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The empty red dresses hanging in windows, public spaces and from trees that line our highways are powerful reminders of the ongoing and devastating impact of gender-based violence. Each dress represents a life stolen, a family shattered and a community left to grieve.

In Canada, and here in Nova Scotia, Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are disproportionately impacted by violence, including physical and sexual assault, homicide and human trafficking because of colonialism and other forms of discrimination.

As a province, we are committed to addressing this crisis head on with compassion and accountability. Guided by the Calls for Justice in the final report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, we are supporting Indigenous-led approaches to healing, listening to Indigenous-led voices to address the root causes of violence, and investing in the safety and well-being of Indigenous women and their families.

Some of the ways we are doing this are through the funding we provide to the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association for the work they do to advocate for and support Indigenous women and girls. Recently, we provided the association with $1.58 million over three years. This includes $300,000 to support their emergency assistance fund, providing financial assistance to families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people to help them access resources they need to rebuild their lives. It also includes $1.28 million over three years to support programming at the Resiliency Centre in Millbrook to enhance culturally appropriate services and spaces for healing, safety, strength and pride.

This work is further supported through our ongoing funding commitments to supporting Indigenous-led approaches to end gender-based violence, including:

• the core funding we provide to Creating Communities of Care Through a Customary Law Approach
• continued support for the Jane Paul Indigenous Resource Centre
• funding for healthy relationship programming and gender-based violence supports at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre.

We know we have a long way to go, but we will continue to work together with Indigenous communities, invest in culturally appropriate supports and work to dismantle the systemic barriers that perpetuate violence.

Today, as we honour the lives lost, I encourage all Nova Scotians to reflect on their own commitment towards reconciliation. Together, we will ensure that the lives of those lost are not forgotten and that we create a better, brighter future for all Nova Scotians.

NT5