Watchlist: ‘Red dresses bring awareness to Washington's missing, murdered Indigenous people’

 

By Kamiah Koch

Social media/digital journalist

All across the country on Monday, May 5, red dresses were on display in public spaces for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Awareness Day, also known as Red Dress Day.

“Right now 72 Indigenous women are missing across the state of Washington and their names can all be found on this display in Northern Quest Resort & Casino,” KXLY reporter Natalie Grant said. “It’s part of their red dress campaign, hoping to raise awareness and put a stop to this growing national epidemic.”

KXLY’s 4 News Now coverage shows video of dozens of red dresses strung across the ceiling of the resort’s lobby area, along with several information displays to provide context, including the long list of missing Indigenous women.

Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority Kyndra Gamache added there are a total of 134 missing Indigenous people in Washington, including men, women and children. To her, awareness days like this are vital.

“These are mothers, grandmothers, daughters, cousins, sisters and aunties,” Gamache said as the camera pans over the display of the missing Indigenous women. “These are all women who aren’t coming home to their families tonight.”

According to Washington State Patrol Tribal Liaison Dawn Pullin, the state of Washington has been leading the charge on directing resources to finding missing Indigenous people but challenges remain, mainly with gaps between Tribal and non-Tribal jurisdictions.

To this, Gamache reiterates the importance of this awareness day.

“The more people who know what the issue is, the more people can help share information and be talking about it to bring these people home,” Gamache said.

The Grand Ronde Tribe had their own Red Dress Day display in the Tribal Governance Center Atrium.

You can watch more of KXLY’s coverage of Washington’s MMIW awareness day at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGQ_5wnr0MI.