MRU raises awareness with red dress displays

On Tuesday, May 5, National Red Dress Day, Mount Royal University is displaying red dresses around campus to raise awareness and provide solidarity around the lives of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people.

Inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black's REDress Project, students, faculty and employees wear red to support and honour the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Canada.

"We are grateful to Jaime Black for her vision to raise awareness and advocacy for the disproportionate instances of violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people," says Tori McMillan, director of MRU's Iniskim Centre.

"In support of this movement, the Iniskim Centre smudges and displays a number of red dresses around the MRU campus as a visual reminder of the harms of gender-based violence in our society. This presence also speaks to the absence felt by their families and loved ones who are seeking closure and justice."

MRU is also proud to support the Gifting Circle Bursary for Indigenous Women in Entrepreneurship. The Bursary is awarded to a full-time female Indigenous student enrolled in the second, third or fourth year of any Bissett School of Business program at Mount Royal University and who has completed one or more courses in entrepreneurship and innovation.

The bursary was started by Shannon Pestun, a proud Métis woman, advocate, entrepreneur, MRU alumna and member of the MRU Board of Governors, who is passionate about creating more opportunities for Indigenous women entrepreneurs.