Statement from the Women’s Representative on Red Dress Day

Press Release

May 05, 2026

Otipemisiwak Métis Government Women’s Representative Gabrielle Blatz made the following statement:

Today, on Red Dress Day, we honour and remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people across Canada, including those from Métis communities across Alberta.

Across our province today, red dresses hang in trees, in windows, and in public spaces, each one representing a life that should still be here. Each red dress is a reminder that behind every statistic is a person that we’ve lost. Our sisters, our mothers, our aunts, our friends, and our neighbours.

Indigenous women and girls are overrepresented in violence at alarming rates, and for Métis people across Alberta, this day is both about mourning but also pushing for change and justice. Our Citizens deserve to feel safe, and those who are lost need to be found. As the Women’s Representative for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, I am committed to advocating for funding for Métis-led safety, prevention, and support services, strengthening protections for Métis women, girls, and Two-Spirit people, and ensuring that violence against Métis Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people is taken seriously.

While this day is rooted in grief, it is also grounded in Métis resilience.

To the families and communities carrying this loss — we see you, and we walk alongside you.

ILR5