Red dress event on P.E.I. gives 'voice' to missing and murdered Indigenous women

Red dresses hanging from trees blew in the wind Saturday as about 100 people gathered in Charlottetown's Victoria Park to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

The smell of burning sage was in the air as children played in the grass and adults greeted each other with hugs.

But there were solemn undertones as members of the P.E.I.'s Mi'kmaw community beat drums, sang and marched for their mothers, daughters, aunts, nieces and anyone else impacted by the loss of a loved one.

Alyssa-Jo Bernard, who was the emcee for the event, had her sister and great-grandmother in her thoughts. They were both murder victims.

"It runs pretty deep in my family and I just feel like I'm a voice for the people who aren't here anymore," Bernard said.

According to a national inquiry report in 2019, Indigenous women and girls are 16 times more likely to be murdered or to disappear than white women.

The day had special meaning for Alyssa-Jo Bernard, who lost both her sister and great-grandmother to murder. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)

The red dresses symbolize those murdered and missing women and help raise awareness that "it's still not over," said Kaelyn Mercer, the two-spirit program co-ordinator with the Native Council of P.E.I.

She said intergenerational trauma has left Indigenous women more vulnerable to mental health issues and homelessness, which also leaves them more susceptible to physical harm.

"Also, a lot of the violence does come from our Indigenous men which also relates to the intergenerational trauma of not being taught how to love and how to be good people so that's a really important thing, to also engage our men and boys to heal themselves," said Mercer.

Members of P.E.I,'s Indigenous community and their supporters march Saturday in honour of lost loved ones. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC)

Mercer hopes people from all cultures will play a part in ending violence against Indigenous women and two-spirited people.

"When you don't have that community it's hard to heal on your own, so when everyone gathers together and fights for the end and for the decrease of this violence and trauma … I think that's really important."

Kaelyn Mercer says it's important for people of all cultures to help end the violence against Indigenous women. (Shane Ross/CBC)

Member's of P.E.I.'s Mi'kmaw community beat drums and sing on stage at the Victoria Park pavilion. (Shane Ross/CBC)

A sign with the words How Many More is placed beside a photo of an Indigenous woman. (Shane Ross/CBC)

Jaimie Augustine braids her daughter Jasmine's hair before the Red Dress Walk. (Shane Ross/CBC)