Red dresses are used to symbolize missing and murdered Indigenous women.
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June 17, 2019 - 3:00 PM
ARMSTRONG - Mollie Bono has had a lot of conversations about the recently released report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In one instance, she spent three hours talking with a group about the inquiry's use of the word "genocide."
"We didn't all agree," she said. "It's valuable because it's making us all talk."
Bono wants to expand this conversation about missing and murdered Indigenous women this weekend. Her group, Journey with Elders, is hosting an open event in Armstrong that focuses on reconcilliation and discussion.
Honouring Women, You Are Not Alone is a gathering at Memorial Park in Armstrong on June 22. The free event kicks off with an opening ceremony at 2 p.m. and will run until 9 p.m.
There will be various speakers and workshops focusing on missing and murdered Indigenous women. Bono said the group wants to provoke a dialogue with a wide variety of people.
"(People) will get to ask a real person questions," she said.
One of the main setpieces at the gathering will be a series of red dresses hung on trees. The Red Dress project is a cross-Canada movement that uses crimson clothes to symbolize missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Bono's group brought the red dresses to a production of the Vagina Monologues in Vernon earlier this year and they got a lot of positive feedback.
"The dresses are an amazing sight," she said. "It will be beautiful and thought-provoking."
Bono said the family event will include drumming and a barbecue. She said the gathering is the biggest event the group's organized.
"This is huge," she said. "We're all hyped."
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