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North Bay holds Red Dress Day ceremony, march

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Sunday marks Red Dress Day, a day to shine a light on the tragedy of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre. January 26, 2021 (File photo/Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

In honour of the day the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (NBIFC) held its second annual march from their offices on Cassells Street to the waterfront at 12:30 p.m. before a formal ceremony at 1 p.m.

About 200 people dressed in red are participated in the walk and festivities.

The March was intended to raise awareness about the importance of improving health and wellness of First Nations people and to call on all levels of governments to step up their efforts towards that goal. 

NBIFC marks also marking its 50th anniversary this year.

“We are proud to provide a platform for the Indigenous community to share their stories and take the time to remember our missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls,” said the centre in a news release.

According to Statsitics Canada, six in 10 Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime and from 2009 to 2021 the homicide rate among Indigenous women and girls was six times higher than that of females without First Nations ancestry.

Prior to the Red Dress Day march locals were invited to join staff and elders for a complimentary lunch and to make signs.

North Bay residents locals were invited to join staff and elders at the Indigenous Friendship Centre for a complimentary lunch and to make signs calling for action in the ongoing tragedy of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. May 5, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centers’ Kanawayhitowin program provided funding for the May 5 activities.

Kanawayhitowin means “taking care of each other’s spirit” and the program’s goal is to raise awareness about the signs of woman abused in our community. The program offers education and support for people who are close to an at-risk woman or abusive man.

Organizers said the conversation around the topic has come a long way but said days like Sunday can’t be the only time it’s brought up.

“We don't want anybody to be forgotten," said Kathy Fortin, the centre's executive director.

"We want to bring awareness to the general public that this is happening, that people are women and children and LGBTQ people are going missing at an enormous rate.”

Last year, Brittany Chevrier the friendship centre’s mental health and wellness coordinator told CTV News that North Bay has about 4,000 Indigenous women in the region and violence against them continues to be a problem.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Eric Taschner

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