logo

REDress edited by Jaime Black-Morsette

CBC09-04-2025

A powerful anthology reflecting on the REDress exhibit and its impact
A powerful anthology uniting the voices of Indigenous women, Elders, grassroots community activists, artists, academics, and family members affected by the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people from across Turtle Island.
In 2010, Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette created the REDress Project—an art installation consisting of placing red dresses in public spaces as a call for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). Symbolizing both absence and presence, the red dresses ignite a reclamation of voice and place for MMIWG2S. Fifteen years later, the symbol of the empty red dress endures as families continue to call for action.
In this anthology, Jaime Black-Morsette shares her own intimate stories and memories of the REDress Project along with the voices of Indigenous women, Elders, grassroots community activists, artists, academics, and family members affected by this tragedy. Together they use the power of their collective voice to not only call for justice for MMIWG2S, but honour Indigenous women as keepers and protectors of land, culture, and community across Turtle Island.
Jaime Black-Morsette is a Red River Métis artist and activist. Founder of The REDress project in 2010, Jaime has used their art to foster community and drive change against the epidemic of violence against Indigenous women and girls across Turtle Island for over a decade. Their interdisciplinary art practice spans immersive film, video, installation, photography, and performance, exploring themes of memory, identity, place, and resistance.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

First Nations celebrate culture, resiliency
First Nations celebrate culture, resiliency

Winnipeg Free Press

time2 days ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

First Nations celebrate culture, resiliency

The scent of tobacco swept through The Forks Saturday morning as elders kicked off National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations with traditional water and pipe ceremonies. Performers from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit backgrounds entertained hundreds of community members who gathered at the historic site with music and dance, while elders shared teachings of their culture's history and traditions. Among the artists shedding light on Indigenous music was Kieran Maytwayashing, a fiddler (violin) player from the Lake Manitoba First Nation and the Long Plain First Nation. SPENCER COLBY / THE CANADIAN PRESS A heart shape cutout with the words 'Every Child Matters' is seen in a flower bed following a National Indigenous People's Day with youth from Future Paths Network, a grassroot organization dedicated to supporting youth who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) in their transition out of the foster care system at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Maytwayashing, who's played the fiddle for more than three years now, said he does it to honour the late Clifford Maytwayashing, another violin player from his community. 'I've always heard it. It's what I listened to all the time growing up, and he was the one who inspired me,' he said. 'I try to keep on his legacy by playing those tunes he played, and it's just been going ever since.' Maytwayashing received a phone call a few weeks ago from the organizer of The Forks event, Kíwétinohk Consulting — an organization serving individuals, organizations, and communities across northern Manitoba — asking if he wanted to perform on Indigenous Peoples Day because they had liked his music on social media. He said he was thrilled by the invitation. 'It's important that more people come to know more about us and what we do. It's normal in our communities, but I'm glad to see this stuff happening here in Winnipeg as well to show other people what the culture is like and experience it for themselves,' said Maytwayashing. He also uses music as a tool to comfort others, such as those currently being displaced from their homes due to the wildfires north of Manitoba. He plans to visit the soccer complex evacuation centre on Leila Avenue and perform for the evacuees staying there. Joanne Nimik, 53, from Swan Lake, came to The Forks to enjoy the live music as well as to witness Indigenous Peoples' resiliency. 'It's beautiful that in spite of things that Indigenous people have been through, time and time again, we rise up,' Nimik said. 'We get up, dust ourselves off, and we keep going. That speaks to the spirit inside all of us.' Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Nimik is Ojibwe and an intergenerational residential school survivor. She said it's refreshing to see society coming together and bringing some cohesiveness, as opposed to the division her mother had experienced in the past. 'It's been a hard road for a lot of folks to even come to attend events like this. To go learn about their history and their culture and their traditions and their language and what they want to learn, what they need to learn,' she said. 'We're starting to make a change, and we have to, but we have to rely on each and every one of us to make that change.' Nimik works closely with Indigenous communities through her service with Bear Clan Patrol. She said despite trying times with the wildfires, it's important to remember there is always a community to help each other out. 'I really hope and pray that a lot of people are coming together and supporting each other and rebuilding on hope, trust, love, courage, and faith. Rise from the ashes, so to speak,' she said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store