Governments urged to support Red Dress Alert system
Posted June 3, 2025 4:09 pm.
Findings from an interim report by Giganawenimaanaig are calling on all levels of government to create the conditions needed for a Manitoba-wide Red Dress Alert system, which quickly mobilizes community and agency responses in the critical hours after an Indigenous woman, girl, or 2SLGBTQIA+ person is reported missing.
“Every day the Red Dress Alert is not implemented is a day that someone could go missing,” said Denise Cook, the project lead for Red Dress Alert.
The Red Dress Alert was first announced in 2024, followed by a $1 million commitment by the federal government, along with $100,000 to find out how it can work nationally.
“Today marks the sixth anniversary of the release of the national inquiry, and we wanted to show that from a community-led process that there is movement,” said Sandra DeLaraonde, chair of Giganawenimaanaanig.
The organization has released its findings based on 39 engagement sessions. Sessions were held with families, communities, First Nations, and key institutions to better understand what is needed for the system to succeed.
“Our strategy was to hear from the community of what’s existing and happening now and then to say these are the service providers that are responsible for adjusting these and then if the gaps are there, we need to share that with them,” said Cook.
The report calls for multi-year funding and legislation to support a coordinated, Indigenous-led alert system across jurisdictions. A final report with full recommendations will be completed on October 4, with hopes to launch the Red Dress Alert system by early next year.
