National Day of Awareness for MMIWG

Every year on May 5th, we mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Also known as “Red Dress Day,” it is a time to remember and honor missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit persons.

The MNO offers vital programs like MNO Victim Services, MNO Anti-Human Trafficking, and the MNO Community Wellness Worker Program. These initiatives provide essential support, advocacy, and resources to those in need within our community:

The MNO Victim Services Program works to address, deter and end violence against Metis people.

• addresses the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual impacts of victimization
• supports Indigenous women, children, youth, older adults, non-binary, trans, two-spirit and people living with disabilities.

The MNO Anti-Human Trafficking Program provides support to communities by engaging at the Provincial level and the local level within the Ottawa area

• support our communities by creating new partnerships, tools, and training resources to increase knowledge about human trafficking and raise awareness about trafficking risks and the supports that are available throughout the province of Ontario
• engage communities by providing direct programming, drop-in, and client supports for people who may be at risk for harm related to the spectrum of issues associated with human trafficking

The MNO Community Wellness Worker Program

• addresses the basic needs of local communities
• provides workshops including healthy relationships, stress reduction, self care and mental wellness
• provides peer support, advocacy and referrals to local program

The MNO strongly encourages citizens of all genders and gender diversities to mark this significant day and participate in the many vigils, community events and local initiatives taking place across Canada on May 5, 2024.

Together, our calls for justice are amplified. Let us display the red dress in solidarity, knowing that we are united in our commitment to healing and creating a better tomorrow.Additional Resources

For more on available MNO supports see: https://www.metisnation.org/programs-and-services/community-wellbeing/

In 2019, Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak published a report Métis Perspectives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ People. Read the full report online at: https://metiswomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LFMO-MMIWG-Report.pdf

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