LAURIE WEIR
Red dresses will once again sway in the spring breeze at the Smiths Falls bandstand — each a haunting symbol of the Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people who are missing or murdered.
Hosted by Flora Mesher Riley, this year’s eighth annual Red Dress Day ceremony takes place Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m., in the same public space where dozens of red garments hung in silent tribute last year.
For Riley, the event is deeply personal. A native of Paradise River, N.L., her Inuit roots are woven through the stories she shares — including the tragic loss of her sister, Daphne Mesher Brown, who was murdered more than 50 years ago.
“This is about remembering all of them — my sister, Loretta Saunders, and so many more,” Riley said. “We use our voices for those who no longer have one.”
Red Dress Day is part of a Canada-wide movement launched in 2010 by Métis artist Jaime Black, who began collecting red dresses as a visual reminder of the women and girls who are no longer present. The empty garments represent lives taken and futures lost and are displayed publicly to raise awareness and call for action.
Last year, about 30 people gathered at the bandstand for the ceremony, including members of the Lanark Drum Circle, local emergency services, politicians, and members of the community. Riley offered a heartfelt thanks to the Town of Smiths Falls, her husband Michael, and everyone who made the gathering possible.
Statistics shared by Sgt. David Laviolette of the Indigenous Policing Bureau underline the gravity of the issue:
- Indigenous women are six times more likely to be victims of homicide than non-Indigenous women in Canada.
- In 2022, they represented over 26 per cent of female homicide victims.
- Youth are at even greater risk, with Indigenous female youth 3.1 times more likely to experience violent victimization.
This year, the ceremony will again feature smudging, song, and personal storytelling — all intended to create space for grief, healing, and resolve.
Riley began hosting private Red Dress events at her home in Montague seven years ago. In 2023, she chose to bring it to the heart of town.
“I wanted more people to see it, to understand,” she said.
And so, on Saturday, the dresses will rise again — stark red against the green of the trees, the blue of the sky, and the silence that begs us to listen.
All are welcome.
