Thursday is Red Dress Day, an observation meant to bring awareness to missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada..Betty Nippi-Albright, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations and Truth and Reconciliation, held a press conference on Thursday morning to launch the Declaration to Honour First Nations Women and Girls..“We know indigenous women are three to five times more likely to experience violence than non-indigenous women. This is unacceptable. No one should have to live in fear or experience violence,” said Nippi-Albright. .“The Saskatchewan Party did not make any major investment to fix or even acknowledge the crisis in the provincial budget, but it’s not too late. We invite the government to stand with the official opposition and with indigenous peoples and commit to addressing this most pressing of issues.”.Third Vice-Chief Aly Bear represented the Federation of Sovereign Indian Nations (FSIN) and joining Bear were families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls urging the provincial government to adopt the declaration..“We are calling on all levels of government and our First Nations institutions to adopt and uphold the declaration to ensure we are reclaiming power and place,” said Bear. .“We need to have these standards upheld, so we are given the respect and dignity owed to put an end to the ongoing violence inflicted daily.”.One name that came up repeatedly at the press conference was Frank Young, a five-year-old boy who went missing from the Red Earth Cree Nation more than two weeks ago..Bear discussed how an Amber Alert wasn't issued for Young because it only met three of the four criteria to trigger an alert..A reporter asked if Saskatchewan should have an indigenous Amber Alert similar to Washington state, which created a separate Amber Alert for missing indigenous people..Bear said it would be “a good start, but does not help Frank Young.”.Gordon Wyant, Justice minister and attorney general, discussed Red Dress Day’s importance and what the government is doing to support missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Saskatchewan. .“Red Dress Day is an opportunity to remember those who are missing and who have been lost, and to reflect on what we can do to address this important issue,” said Wyant..“As a government, we have taken numerous steps to improve responses to missing persons, reduce human trafficking and provide supports to at-risk individuals.”.Don McMorris, minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs, discussed the government’s actions to support missing and murdered indigenous women and girls..“Our government is committed to meaningful, and lasting reconciliation with First Nations and Métis communities across our province,” McMorris said. .“These investments will support community-led Indigenous projects, including $400,000 for initiatives that address issues related to the National Action Plan for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.”.Laura Ross, minister responsible for the Status of Women Office, said the government is committed to fighting gender-based violence..“Today is a day to not only commemorate missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, but to also raise awareness and provide education on the importance of addressing gender-based violence,” Ross said. .“The Status of Women Office will continue to work toward addressing gender-based violence to ensure the safety of everyone in our communities.”.Red Dress Day started in 2010 when Métis artist Jaime Black held the first REDress Project and it has grown into a national movement.
