Taking the time to remember and honour the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people will be at the heart of Friday’s observances at the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre.
The National Day of Awareness or Red Dress Day on May 5 will see families who have lost loved ones being encouraged, supported and perhaps share from their hearts explains Patsy Waskewitch executive director at the centre.
“I come from Onion Lake actually. And we have had a few of women who have gone missing from the Lloydminster area – and I knew them. Even that itself – it’s hard to fathom. But its affects everybody – the whole community,” says Waskewitch.
Friday’s event will begin with Pipe Ceremony at 10 a.m. at the centre, then a memorial walk at noon from city hall to the clock tower and back to the centre. A lunch will be served from 1 p.m. and several speakers will be sharing. The Prairie Thunder Boys drummers from the public school division will also be on hand over the luncheon session.
Waskewitch who is marking her second year at the helm of the centre for Red Dress Day, explains the day’s significance.
“Red Dress Day – it means a lot to a lot of women, moms, daughters and sisters. It’s losing a loved one.”
The day will end with a vigil at 7 p.m. at the gazebo on the city hall grounds.
Organizers are thankful to all their community partners for support including the LRHF, Learning Council, Heart of Treaty Six, Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and United Way.