Canada and Manitoba are collaborating on the launch of a Red Dress Alert system to notify the public when an Indigenous woman or girl goes missing, with the goal of preventing deaths and increasing safe reunions with loved ones. Statistics Canada’s report last year showed that the homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls is significantly higher than that for their non-Indigenous counterparts, and a national inquiry found that they are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered. The Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister highlighted the importance of centering Indigenous communities in their actions as they work towards bringing more Indigenous individuals home.
The Manitoba pilot of the Red Dress Alert system will be designed and led by Indigenous Peoples, with the goal of informing a future national alert system. The project will be funded through allocations from federal and provincial budgets for this year. Manitoba’s minister for women and gender equity emphasized the potential impact of the alert system in reducing risks faced by Indigenous women and girls, and expressed a commitment to inclusive collaboration with Indigenous partners in the development of the pilot project. NDP MP Leah Gazan, who had spearheaded efforts for a national alert system, welcomed the announcement as a significant step towards addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The motion put forward by Gazan in the House of Commons last year, declaring the situation a Canada-wide emergency and calling for the establishment of a national alert system akin to Amber Alerts, was unanimously supported by fellow MPs. Several North American jurisdictions already have alert systems for missing Indigenous persons, such as Washington state’s system. The national inquiry’s final report in 2019 highlighted systematic rights violations as the underlying cause of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals, and included 231 calls to justice directed towards various stakeholders. However, progress in addressing these issues has been limited.
The initiative to develop a Red Dress Alert system reflects a commitment to addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada and Manitoba. By centering Indigenous communities in the design and implementation of the alert system, the hope is to enhance safety and facilitate the timely reunification of missing individuals with their loved ones. The project is also an acknowledgment of the ongoing systemic issues that perpetuate violence against Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people, and the importance of collective action to address these injustices. Through collaborative efforts and funding commitments, the partners aim to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive and effective approach to preventing and responding to incidents of missing Indigenous individuals.
