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GCVI students bring attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

December 21, 2018

GUELPH, Ontario – Earlier this year, students in the Indigenous studies class at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute began a Red Dress Project.

Over the last 30 years, more than 1,000 Canadian Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or have been murdered. The Red Dress Project aims to not only bring attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), but also to be a visual reminder of the overwhelming number of women who have disappeared. Students displayed the project around the school to bring attention to MMIWG.

The CBC website offers an in depth look at profiles of hundreds of the MMIWG and as part of the project, each student in the class researched the women using this list and chose the story that resonated most with them for the project.

According to GCVI student Monique, “Each story represents one woman or girl, and one baby.  We [displayed] them throughout the school in high traffic areas so that many students, staff and guests would walk by and see.  We are hoping this will educate the youth.”

While speaking about the experience, GCVI student Ethan said, “High school is the perfect place to bring in these stories because as young people, we need to know so we can take action. I remember seeing the red dresses last year, and they caught my attention.  This year, I thought it would be a good idea to have stories and pictures, to personalize, and humanize each of the women so everyone knows these represent actual people.  [I think] it resonates more with people when they can see the faces, and read the stories.”

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