FSJ to participate in Red Dress Project

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A red dress has been hung in City Hall.

During Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Lori Ackerman proclaimed May 5th as National Day of Remembrance for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People in the City of Fort St. John.

An email and video submitted by Trystan Jones to council suggested the city take part in the demonstration.

“I know in Trystan’s letter he requested that we display [the dress] outside. I know we are expecting some hectic weather up north here again, so I’m going to recommend we display the red dress prominently in our lobby,” says Ackerman.

The letter highlighted the show of solidarity for the Red Dress Project in Ladysmith, and the information in the MMIWG Report indicates issues that are relevant in Fort St. John.

“The report detailed how there was a direct correlation to resource extraction based communities and MMIWG. We as a community must be cognizant of these findings and the show of solidarity from the elected leaders at Ladysmith City Hall and its First Nations showcase what good leadership looks like,” said Jones in an email.

The demonstration has become a symbol of recognition across Canada, hanging a red dress to illustrate the issue.

“More than 1,200 Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people have gone missing or been murdered since 1980,” says the proclamation.

“Indigenous women and families have been calling for awareness to be drawn to this issue by hanging a red dress as part of the Red Dress Project one week before May 5th to one week after, to honour the women, girls, and two-spirit peoples who have gone missing or been murdered.”