Hundreds gather in downtown Edmonton to mark National Red Dress Day

There was a sea of red in downtown Edmonton on Thursday as about 400 people marked National Red Dress Day.

There was a sea of red in downtown Edmonton on Thursday as about 400 people marked National Red Dress Day.

Many were holding tightly onto signs that had messages of love, calls for justice and pictures of loved ones who are missing or murdered.

National Red Dress day honours missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, but men and boys are not left out.

Ronald Beaver came with his family. He painted wooden signs to honour his sister Audrey Beaver. She was last seen in August 2020 in Edmonton. Ronald hopes she will be found.

“Audrey is my sister, and we obviously pray and think about her everyday,” he said.

While coming to the event was emotional, Ronald said it felt like the right place to be.

“It is a beautiful way to honour our Indigenous people,” he said.

Irene Natress came with signs that had pictures of her son Jeremy Natress. He was found dead in a hotel room in 2016. He was 34 years old.