The third annual Honouring their Spirits smudge walk and gathering was held in Regina on Wednesday, bringing together community members to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+). The event took place ahead of Red Dress Day, observed annually on May 5 to raise awareness about the crisis.
Participants gathered at a local park for a smudge ceremony and a walk through the city. Organizers emphasized the importance of remembering the lives lost and supporting families who continue to seek justice. The event featured speeches from community leaders, elders, and family members of victims.
“We walk for our mothers, sisters, grandmothers, daughters,” said one organizer. “This is a time to come together, to heal, and to demand action.” Red dresses were hung in public spaces throughout Regina to symbolize the missing and murdered women.
The walk was part of a broader movement across Canada to draw attention to the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women and girls. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than non-Indigenous women.
Attendees called for increased government funding for community-led safety initiatives and better implementation of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice. Many expressed frustration with the slow pace of change.
The event concluded with a feast and a sharing circle, where participants reflected on the significance of the day. “We are here to say their names, to keep their spirits alive, and to ensure this crisis is not forgotten,” said an elder.
