Red Dress Day at the Strength and Remembrance Pole
It was cold and wet this morning, but that did not stop a large crowd - including students from several schools - from gathering at North Vancouver’s Strength and Remembrance Pole to mark Red Dress Day and remember and honour the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.
The ceremony began with drummers from the Squamish Nation leading us in procession to the Remembrance Pole to pay our respects.
Special guests included Indigenous artist Sinamkin (Jody Broomfield) who had carved the pole. He spoke about the tree from which the pole was carved - how it came from the forest of the Squamish people. He spoke how he had thanked the tree for giving its life and how now it would receive new life as a spiritual beacon for the victims and also to give a place for them to come together and find strength and comfort. The pole is topped with the figure of a woman who represents all those who never came home. Her eyes are closed to symbolize that she is at peace. She is wrapped in a blanket to symbolize the love and care those gathered still feel for her and she stands atop an eagle, which has carried her home, with courage, to the Creator.
The ceremony included laying of roses at the base of the pole as well as the singing of the women’s Warrior Song. Carrie Klaassen, who we were honoured to have with us (Marcia and Pastor Vida), brought her drums so we could join in the honour drumming.
If you have never participated in a Red Dress Day commemoration, please do consider attending next year. One of the ways we can put actions behind our words and prayers of Reconciliation is to show up for Indigenous people at their events. To learn more on how we as non-Indigenous people do have a role to play in the fight for justice for MMIWG2S read this piece by Indigenous journalists, “Beyond Red Dress Day: Seven calls to action for Indigenous Allies” - https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/beyond-red-dress-day-7-calls-to-action-for-indigenous-allies/