The first Red Dress event was held on May 5, 2010, as a day of honouring for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, two spirited and men, and as a day to raise awareness and education on the critical national issue. Red dresses are hung in trees or affixed to a structure, as if floating, and left empty to evoke the missing women and girls - Black was told by a friend that red is the only colour spirits could see.
(Red)is really a calling back of the spirits of these women and allowing them a chance to be among us and have their voices heard through their family members and community.
- Jaime Black
