Red Dress Pin workshop cancelled by Nenan Dane family services society

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — An upcoming workshop to recognize and honour Red Dress Day in May has been cancelled a couple of days before taking place.

Nenan Dane zaa deh zona family services society was scheduled to hold a workshop on Wednesday, April 22nd, where attendees would be able to create Red Dress Day Pins, according to a Facebook post.

The society writes the lack of registrants as the cause for the cancellation, saying it “apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your understanding.”

However, Nenan Dane adds do-it-yourself pin kits are still available at the society to take home. Email admin@nenan.ca for further details or to request a kit.

Recognized on May 5th, Red Dress Day acknowledges and recognizes Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Two-Spirit persons across Canada.

Data from Statistics Canada suggest the homicide rate among First Nations, Inuit and Métis women is six times higher than that of non-Indigenous women between 2009 and 2021.

Red Dress Day was first recognized in 2010 by Métis artist Jaime Black, who hung up red dresses representing victims as part of an art project.