Manitoba and Canada collaborate to create Red Dress Alert system for missing Indigenous women and girls

Canada and Manitoba have announced a partnership to launch a Red Dress Alert system that aims to inform the public when an Indigenous woman or girl goes missing. The announcement was made in Winnipeg ahead of a national day to mark the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

The Red Dress Alert system is a long-awaited initiative that seeks to prevent deaths and increase safe reunions with loved ones. Statistics Canada’s report from last year revealed that the homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls is six times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Additionally, a national inquiry from five years ago found that Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to go missing or be murdered.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree emphasized the importance of centering Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people in their actions. The Manitoba pilot program will be designed and led by Indigenous Peoples and is expected to inform a national alert system in the future. The funding for this initiative will come from the federal and provincial budgets.

The announcement has been met with support from various government officials and community members who believe that the alert system could help reduce the risks faced by Indigenous women and girls. NDP MP Leah Gazan, who has been advocating for a national alert system, described the partnership as a small but significant step towards addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.