Up to 50 red dresses will be displayed in locations campus-wide from April 10-15, in honour of Iconic Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People (MMIWG2S+).

The week-long display is being launched nearly a month in advance of the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S+ on May 5 as more people are on campus to view and gain awareness of its important message.

The university has worked with the exhibit’s creator, Métis artist Jaime Black, to expand on last year’s display. The dresses will appear in outside areas across main and west campuses, including along University Avenue, as they had in 2022, as well as throughout green spaces around Summerhill, outside Stauffer Library, and nearby Gordon, Ontario, Grant, Kingston, Carruthers, and Fleming halls, as well as in windows at Queen’s west campus.

The week’s installation will be officially launched with a brief opening ceremony outside of Richardson Hall on April 10 at 10 a.m., during which Kandice Baptiste, Associate Director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, and Cultural Advisor Te ho wis kwûnt (Allen Doxtator) will share remarks. On April 11, Jaime Black will host a virtual artist talk as well, open to all who register.

Visit the Office of Indigenous Initiatives website for more details.