Saskatchewan Polytechnic creates REDress displays in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
May 3, 2019 – Indigenous Strategy at Saskatchewan Polytechnic is creating red dress displays at our four main campus locations to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and recognize the National Day of Awareness for MMIWG on May 5. The campus displays will be up May 4-6, 2019 in Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon. Moose Jaw campus has a permanent MMIWG display.
“Sask Polytech’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls REDress displays bring about awareness and attention to this important issue in our campus communities,” says Deanna Speidel, Indigenous Strategy coordinator. “These displays evoke presence through absence. The more people are talking about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the less we will forget.”
All displays will include red dresses to symbolize the lives of MMIWG. According to certain Dakota spiritual beliefs, the colour red is sacred and is the only colour spirits can see. The spirits of the Indigenous women and girls who are no longer with us will see the dresses and know that they have not been forgotten.
The REDress exhibit concept was originally created by Winnipeg-based Métis artist Jamie Black as an aesthetic response to the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
Through displays, such as the MMIWG REDress display, Sask Polytech is bringing attention to important Indigenous issues. Having Indigenous presentations, artwork and ceremonies on our campus communities helps our Indigenous faculty, staff and students see their culture and history reflected on campus.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves students through applied learning opportunities on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territories and the homeland of the Métis. Learning takes place at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.