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New Brunswick·Ann's Eye

'The Wolastoq is healing': Red Dress Day in Fredericton

Marchers gathered dressed in red to walk along the river for Red Dress Day on May 5 in Fredericton.

Taking up space for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

CBC News ·
A few people wearing red stand outside in the sun holding up hand-made signs.
Folks gathered in Fredericton for a Red Dress Day march on May 5. (Ann Paul/CBC)

This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.

Red is a sacred colour, Ann Paul says.

"When we wrap our sacred items they are in red. We are all sacred, so we wrap ourselves in red."

There was a sea of red along the Wolastoq (St. John River) in Fredericton on May 5 for Red Dress Day, a day to grieve and honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

WATCH | A sea of red along the river: 

Ann's Eye: Red Dress Day on the Wolastoq

10 months ago
Duration 1:36
Marchers gathered along the Wolastoq in Fredericton for Red Dress Day on Sunday, May 5. The day is meant to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and to create space for their loved ones to heal.

Ann Paul marched alongside others in support of Red Dress Day. Watch the video and scroll through the photos to see what she saw.

A young woman with slicked back, dark hair stands outside holding a sign that says missing but never forgotten.
Taking up space on Red Dress Day shows support for victims, Ann Paul says. 'We are showing up as voices of those who are not able to speak.' (Ann Paul/CBC)
A person with brown hair stands outside with their back to the camera, holding up a sign that says I will not be next.
A national inquiry in 2019 found Indigenous women and girls are 16 times more likely to be murdered or to disappear than white women. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A young woman with long brown hair stands outside in the sun holding a baby with a red scarf around its head. An older woman with short brown hair stands smiling next to them.
Ann Paul says she hopes showing up for Red Dress Day shows young Indigenous women and girls that they have support. 'We are strong together, and it's time to tell the world we need action.' (Ann Paul/CBC)
Three women dressed in red clothing stand next to each other outside on a grassy field with their backs to the camera.
The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls considers violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people to be genocide. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A crowd of people wearing red march down a sunny street.
In addition to the usual march, Ann Paul says there was also a men's solidarity march, led by Wolastoqey Grand Chief Ron Tremblay. 'They have to remember they’re there to take care of the women because the women are the house of the next generation.' (Ann Paul/CBC)
A crowd of people wearing red clothing walk down a street next to a wide river. One marcher holds up a white flag with a red handprint and letter MMIWG on it.
The Wolastoq is a source of grounding and healing, Ann Paul says. 'We receive strength from the water.' (Ann Paul/CBC)
A crowd of people wearing red and carrying flags and signs marches down a winding, paved path on a sunny day.
The weaving line of red and black reminded Ann Paul of snake medicine, which is a healing medicine. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A man wearing a red sweater and red baseball cap stands on a street holding up an enlarged photo of a woman's face.
The framed photograph shows Sheri Lynn Sabattis, an Oromocto First Nation woman who was the victim of a recent homicide. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A group of people wearing red walk across a bridge on a sunny day.
Marchers sang and drummed as they walked, Ann Paul says, singing a warrior woman song. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A group of people sit in a wide circle around a smoking fire on a sunny day.
Red Dress Day included a sacred fire, which people could put their prayers into. (Ann Paul/CBC)
A woman wearing a red sweater and long skirt stands over a fire, rubbing her hands in the smoke.
'A fire’s always lit when we need comfort,' Ann Paul says. (Ann Paul/CBC)

Ann's Eye

Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work. 

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