By Lasia Kretzel

REDress project brings attention to missing, murdered aboriginal women

Sep 18, 2014 | 7:39 AM

A Winnipeg artist using the power of the dress to educate and bring awareness to the plight of missing and murdered aboriginal women has brought her message to Saskatoon.

Jamie Black's REDress Project has 130 red dresses hanging from trees and in hallways at the University of Saskatchewan.

The public art display is meant to draw attention to the more than 1,200 Canadian aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in the past 30 years.

Black says the ghostly image of a red dress blowing in the wind is to remind passersby of the women that once filled them.

“You can walk right by them and feel as though someone's there and then look and see no one is there. It's a real visceral reminder of the fact that there are so many women no longer here to tell their stories,” Black said. “I hope this project allows spaces for families and community members to tell the stories that need to be told about these women who can no longer speak for themselves.”

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The idea for the project, which is now in its fourth year, came to Black over the course of several experiences including indigenous and performing arts conferences.

She said when she thought of all the women who had gone missing, the image of red dresses covering Winnipeg came to mind.

“The colour of the dress and the dress itself symbolizes the positive, the powerful and the negative aspects of being an indigenous woman in the society we live in today,” Black said, adding the colour has several meanings including pain, blood, power, passion and healing.

The display’s title also represents a play on words for both the red dresses and the redress towards aboriginal communities.

The project's U of S unveiling follows the federal government's labeling of a plan to address violence against aboriginal women and girls on Monday.

The plan comes from the 16 recommendations made by MPs on the special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women last March.

The government has budgeted $25 million over five years for the plan, a commitment they first announced in the 2014 budget.

Opposition parties and community members continue to call on the federal government for a national inquiry.

Black said she feels that while a national inquiry would give the larger Canadian public to have a better understanding of the factors that put aboriginal women at risk, she is skeptical of a lasting solution coming from the government.

“I do feel slightly suspicious about the organizations and the frameworks that created the problem actually being able to fix the problem,” she said. “I think it's really up to the Canadian public, both indigenous and non indigenous to begin a dialogue and education each other and coming together as a community to stop this violence.”

Black said that is why she wanted her art piece to extend beyond the traditional art gallery.

“I wanted it to be a public art exhibition because I want everyone to encounter the specter of the violence women are facing,” she said. “I wanted all those people to encounter this issue and become curious and see the symbol of the emptiness and ask questions.”

The dresses will remain on display until Oct. 5.

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