Today, on May 5th, 2020, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) honours all Indigenous mothers, daughters, aunties, sisters, grandmothers, nieces and cousins. On this day of national importance we can honour the MMIWG by embracing and supporting community healing.
The Grandmother Earth Dress is a traditional red jingle dress, created by the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), and inspired by Jaime Black’s REDress Project. She honours and acknowledges Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. She also serves as a sacred item of healing for families as well as communities to commemorate their loved ones. She is meant for families to visualize their loved ones in beautiful traditional regalia.
365 jingles on the dress represent a year round call for justice and safety for Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.