On May 5, 2022, Queen’s marked the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People (MMIWG2S+) with a display of red dresses from the lampposts lining campus’ University Avenue.
This year, the university is building on this recognition, working with the creator of the REDress Project, artist Jaime Black, to expand this installation to spaces across both main and west campuses. Nearly 50 dresses were exhibited in both outdoor and indoor spaces from April 10-15 in advance of this year’s national day of reflection taking place on May 5, 2023.
“We heard such positive and moving feedback about last year’s display of red dresses that we wanted to raise visibility of this important project even more,” said Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation). “This means more dresses in more places, but it also underpins our decision to launch the installation earlier in the spring when even more people – students particularly – are still on campus to view it. This is such an important issue and a must-see experience for all of us as we redouble our dedication to the ongoing work of truth, reconciliation and ending violence against Indigenous women, children, and gender diverse people.”
Red dresses once again lined University Avenue with additional dresses displayed through the green space around Summerhill, outside Stauffer Library, and Gordon, Ontario, Grant, Kingston, Carruthers, and Fleming Halls, as well as in windows at Queen’s west campus.
An opening ceremony took place on April 10, during which remarks were shared by Queen’s Cultural Advisor Te ho wis kwûnt (Allen Doxtator) and Kandice Baptiste, Associate Director, Office of Indigenous Initiatives.
“Among the university’s core values is our responsibility to continually strive for a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist community,” said Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “This is an important moment for reflection and for each of us to deepen our understanding and re-affirm our commitment to the work ahead.”
The week also included a free, virtual talk with exhibit creator Jaime Black.
“The REDress Project is a call to action,” said Black. “It’s a call to gather in circles of care and connection, to witness both violence and resilience, and to draw on our collective power to seek justice.”
Learn more about the REDress Project display on the Office of Indigenous Initiatives website.
This story originally appeared on the Queen’s Gazette website.
