Missing Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit Awareness Week

Saturday, May 3 – Saturday May 10

Red Dress Installation at the IAIS museum: Saturday, May 3rd – Saturday, May 10th

Each year, thousands of women, children, and 2 Spirit Native Americans go missing or are found murdered in the United States and Canada. Gaps in data make the true scope difficult to estimate, but the murder rate of Native women is more than ten times the national average on some reservations. 

In observance of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls on May 5th, the Institute for American Indian Studies will be participating in several activities designed to raise awareness about this important issue. Over the past few years, staff, volunteers, members, and anonymous supporters have donated over 100 red dresses of various shapes and sizes. At the museum, we will be hanging red dresses in an installation based on the work of Metis artist Jaime Black. Some of the red dresses that have been donated over the years will also be installed at the Connecticut state capitol in Hartford from May 5th – May 9th. 

As part of this effort, our Educational Outreach Ambassador Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) will be participating in Red Dress Day at the state capitol on Wednesday, May 7th at 10:00am, in an initiative bringing together various individuals, organizations, and tribal nations from throughout the state for an honoring ceremony featuring guest speakers from Connecticut’s five tribal nations. 

Please note: Due to the nature of this topic, these activities may trigger strong emotions in some participants.

If you would like to participate in the installation of red dresses at the museum, or at the state capitol, please email [email protected]. Attendance at this outdoor installation is free, although we encourage donations to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: https://www.niwrc.org/. 

Questions?