The REDress Project comes to York University this week
First created by Winnipeg-based Métis artist, Jaime Black in 2010, The REDress Project uses red dresses to draw attention to the more than 1,000 unresolved cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and Two-Spirit persons (MMIWGT2) in Canada.
The goal of The REDress Project is to create an open discussion about the gendered and racialized nature of violence against Indigenous peoples since colonization. Using donated red dresses, Black creates an installation art project that serves as a visual reminder of the missing and murdered women, girls, trans and two-spirited persons. The REDress Project is part of a week of special events running from March 5 to 8.
The events include:
- March 5, from 3 to 4pm, in the Glendon Cafeteria, Glendon Campus. Jingle Dancer Wenzdae Brewster and the drumming group Spirit Wind will give a performance. This event is free and open to the public.
- March 6, from 1 to 2pm, in Vari Hall, Keele Campus. Jingle Dancer Wenzdae Brewster and the drumming group Spirit Wind will give an encore performance
- March 7, from 6 to 8pm, in the Ballroom, Glendon Manor, Glendon Campus. Keynote Address by Glendon’s Anishinaabe Linguistics Professor Maya Chacaby
- March 8, from 6 to 8pm, in the Underground Restaurant, Student Centre, Keele Campus. Following Jingle Dancer Wenzdae Brewster and a Big Drum performance, The REDress Project creator, Jaime Black, will deliver a keynote presentation remotely prior to a panel discussion featuring York University Professors Bonita Lawrence, Ruth Koleszar-Green and Nicole Penak; and Aboriginal Students Association Executive Member, Erin Goulais.
To register for any of the events, visit http://www.yorku.ca/rights/forms/view.php?id=61.
To learn more about the event, see these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4OjrHJgQYY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNmKfyUkFk4&t=5s