CT COMMEMORATES MAY 5TH AS RED DRESS DAY HONORING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Members of the indigenous community during the proclamation of May 5th as "Red Dress Day" in honor of the deaths within the Native American community. Photo: Boceto Media

Hartford, CT - A press conference was held at the Capitol on Monday to honor missing and murdered indigenous people with a proclamation declaring May 5 as Red Dress Day in solidarity with victims of crimes within that community.

Red Dress Day is a day of remembrance and awareness observed by Native American communities to honor and raise awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals.

Red Dress Day is typically marked by events such as marches, vigils, panel discussions, and art exhibits aimed at increasing awareness and mobilizing action to address this ongoing crisis.

Vice President Sarah Harris of the Mohegan Tribe of Native Americans of Connecticut emphasized the seriousness of the crisis, “Today we have the opportunity to shine a bright light on these ignored and unreported facts. Red Dress Day is a call to action. It is not just to remember.” 

Harris called for concrete actions to ensure the safety and protection of indigenous communities.

Senator Mae Flexer underscored the urgent need for legislative action to address systemic violence against indigenous women.

“The red dresses behind me are not cause for celebration. They represent the hundreds of Native American women who are killed or go missing every year in the United States of America. These dresses represent the blood they have shed.”

"The Capitol was adorned with red dresses of various sizes, from girls to adult women, recalling the violence against the Native American community. Photo: Boceto Media

Vice President LaToya Cluff of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation echoed the call for justice, emphasizing ongoing efforts to raise awareness and seek accountability for atrocities committed against indigenous individuals. 

“We stand in solidarity with indigenous communities of North America calling on the state of Connecticut and federal agencies to join us in addressing this crisis effectively,” Cluff said. “Today, we demand justice to end the nightmare facing indigenous families across the country.”

Senator Catherine Osten emphasized the importance of recognizing and honoring tribal partners in the fight against violence, highlighting the discouraging statistic that homicide is the sixth leading cause of death among Native American women in the United States.

Sequoia Hood was in the audience during the conference and identifies as belonging to the indigenous heritage of the Mashantucket Pequot tribe. 

“It's wonderful to see how we all come together for a common cause, and it shows that we really care about our people,"Hood said.

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