Red Dress Day
Red Dress Day, observed annually on May 5, is a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG2S) and Two-Spirit people in Canada. It serves as a powerful visual reminder and a call to action to address the violence faced by Indigenous communities. The day is inspired by the REDress Project, an art installation created by Métis artist Jaime Black, which uses red dresses as a symbolic representation of the missing and murdered. See below a staff curated list of books celebrating the resilience of Indigenous peoples and the dark history of violence they continue to endure and heal from. Find more resources on our online catalogue.
Non-Fiction: Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls by Angela Sterritt
In her brilliant debut, Sterritt shares her memoir alongside investigative reporting into cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, showing how colonialism and racism led to a society where Sterritt struggled to survive as a young person, and where the lives of Indigenous women and girls are ignored and devalued. In her book Sterritt demands accountability from the media and the public, exposing racism, and showing that there is much work to do on the path towards understanding the truth. But most importantly, she proves that the strength and brilliance of Indigenous women is unbroken, and that together, they can build lives of joy and abundance.
Memoir: Our Voice on Fire: A Memoir of a Warrior Rising by Brandi Morin
A survivor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis, Cree/Iroquois/French journalist Brandi Morin discusses her life as a foster kid and runaway who fell victim to predatory men and an oppressive system, as well as her career as an internationally acclaimed journalist who reports on Indigenous oppression in North America.
Fiction: Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie L. Dove
To find a missing young woman, the new tribal marshal must also find herself. At rock bottom following her daughter’s murder, ex-Chicago detective Carrie Starr has nowhere to go but back to her roots. Starr’s father never talked much about the reservation that raised him, but they need a new tribal marshal as much as Starr needs a place to call home. In the last decade, too many young women have disappeared from the rez. Some dead, others just … gone. Now, local college student Chenoa Cloud is missing, and Starr falls into an investigation that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter-the girl she failed to save.
YA Fiction: Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
When local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway to honor Loren’s missing sister, Mara thinks she’ll finally make some friends on the Blackfeet reservation. Instead, a girl from the Giveaway, Samantha White Tail, is found murdered. Because the four members of the Giveaway group were the last to see Samantha alive, each becomes a person of interest in the investigation. And all of them-Mara, Loren, Brody, and Eli-have a complicated history with Samantha. Despite deep mistrust, the four must now take matters into their own hands and clear their names. Even though one of them may be the murderer.
YA Graphic Novel: If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie
A graphic novel about the subject of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Combining fiction and non-fiction, this young adult graphic novel looks into one of the unique dangers of being an Indigenous teen in Canada today. The text of the book is derived from excerpts of a letter written to the Winnipeg Chief of Police by fourteen-year-old Brianna Jonnie–a letter that went viral and in which, Jonnie calls out the authorities for neglecting to immediately investigate and involve the public in the search for missing Indigenous people, and urges them to “not treat me as the Indigenous person I am proud to be” if she were to be reported missing.
Juvenile Fiction: In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier
In this moving story of legacy and reclamation, two young sisters are taken from their home and family. Powerless in a broken system, April and Cheryl are separated and placed in different foster homes. Despite the distance, they remain close, even as their decisions threaten to divide them emotionally, culturally, and geographically. As one sister embraces her Métis identity, the other tries to leave it behind. Will the sisters’ bond survive as they struggle to make their way in a society that is often indifferent, hostile, and violent? Beloved for more than 40 years, In Search of April Raintree is a timeless story that lingers long after the final page. This anniversary edition features a foreword by Governor General’s Award–winning author Katherena Vermette, and an afterword by University of Regina professor, Dr. Raven Sinclair (Ôtiskewâpit), an expert on Indigenous child welfare.
Juvenile Non-fiction: Missing and Exploited Indigenous Women and Girls by Simon Rose
Investigates the urgent crisis of Indigenous women and girls in Canada being the victims of violence, abduction and murder.
Picture Books: My Little Ochidaa by Willie Poll; illustrated by Hawlii Pichette
The word Ogichidaa means warrior in Anishinaabemowin, and this beautifully illustrated book is a tribute to Indigenous families everywhere who are proudly raising their children to carry forward their culture, language, and love with resilience, strength, and kindness.
Film: Missing from Fire Trail Road
A riveting documentary detailing the case of Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, a Native American woman who disappeared in 2020. Her story exposes how Indigenous women continue to go missing in the USA, perpetuating trans-generational trauma on reservations.
