REDress: Art, Action, and the Power of Presence

by Jaime Black-Morsette (Editor), Mackenzie Anderson Linklater (contributor), Marjorie Beaucage (contributor)

A powerful anthology uniting the voices of Indigenous women, Elders, grassroots community activists, artists, academics, and family members affected by the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people from across Turtle Island.

In 2010, Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette created the REDress Project—an art installation consisting of placing red dresses in public spaces as a call for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). Symbolizing both absence and presence, the red dresses ignite a reclamation of voice and place for MMIWG2S. Fifteen years later, the symbol of the empty red dress endures as families continue to call for action.

In this anthology, Jaime Black-Morsette shares her own intimate stories and memories of the REDress Project along with the voices of Indigenous women, Elders, grassroots community activists, artists, academics, and family members affected by this tragedy. Together they use the power of their collective voice to not only call for justice for MMIWG2S, but honour Indigenous women as keepers and protectors of land, culture, and community across Turtle Island.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Canada, Poetry, Art

160 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2025

Reviews

[Mystic Faerie ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful.

[Debbie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A powerful and 'must-read' book edited by Jaime Black-Morsette, the gifted artist, writer, and creator of the REDress Project."

As a non-Indigenous reader, I was curious to learn the background behind Black-Morsette's famous art installation and how her idea to hang red dresses in public spaces has become a national movement and symbolic call for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit people (MMIWG2S).

As soon as I started reading, I was immediately impressed and could not put the book down.

Featuring poetry, essays, photography, and reflections by 19 prominent activists and contributors, the book begins with a foreword, a tribute to a colleague, and a prayer, and continues with such poetic and catchy section titles as "She Lights a Fire", "They Tried to Bury Us", "She Holds Ground", and "She Holds Water".

As Black-Morsette states in her poem "Red River", "the wind becomes our words" (p. 62). I could feel the hauntings, the spirit voices blowing not only through the images of the empty red dresses but via the words on each page, and how the journey towards healing must continue.

At times, the personal sharing was heart-wrenching (with a content warning listed towards the beginning of the book). Other times, the content was inspirational and thought-provoking!

I would highly recommend this book to those who love art and its ability to create awareness and the motivation for others to take action towards making this a better world.

Bravo Jaime! Great job! I look forward to following more of your work.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette created the REDress Project in 2010 to bring attention to an ongoing tragedy affecting the indigenous community in Canada. Red dresses are used in public art installations as a call for justice and a record of struggle for MMIWG2S – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people. This compilation includes photographs, poems, essays, scholarly presentations and reflections on the movement. The color red – thought by indigenous cultures to be the color that spirits can see – pervades the book’s design, lending the contents a feel of urgency. Contributors from many different nations are present, such as Métis, Anishinaabe, Inuk, Dene and Cree. Their biographies appear at the end.

This is a moving look at how women in indigenous communities are using art and activism to keep the the issue at the forefront, despite the lack of progress in solving or preventing the crimes. Apparently, indigenous women and girls are twelve times more likely to be murdered or missing than other Canadians. Indigenous activists and scholars in the U.S. could use this book as inspiration or as a resource for studying the two countries’ crime rates.

A content warning signals that the book contains language concerning violence against women. I’d offer this to activist artists or anyone interested in justice for indigenous communities, in high school and up.

[Lucy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

REDress is a moving anthology of work documenting first-hand accounts of historical and ongoing colonial violence against Indigenous girls, women and Two-Spirit individuals. The anthology contains poetry, shared memories, interviews and extracts from key reports such as Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The REDress project itself documents the comprehensive use of art installation to bear witness to the rippling pain of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people. Black-Morsette envisions the red dress as a symbol for advocacy, so that those who are missing are not forgotten. Other contributors point out that young men are also missing. An important book on social justice, this anthology is both compelling and heart-breaking. Highly recommended.

[Andrea (Hammock and Read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of art, photos, poems, stories, and information. It focus on Canada but shows light for MMIWG2S for all of Turtle Island. It was new information for me about the Canada’s gov- Genocide finding of Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Inuit and Metis, which especially targets women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. Indian Act, Sixties Scoop, residential schools and breach of human and Indigenous rights but how the colonial gaze/lens makes it hard for so many to realize/understand. There is also a call for all Canadians to speak, act, learn but again it can be for all allies across Turtle Island. I also really enjoyed the story about Matrilineal societies and how time is Matrilineal as well.
I highly recommend this as it's such a great mix of art and word to help explain MMIWG2S.

[Jack Silvernagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Passionately compiled collection of poems, essays, conversations, narratives, descriptions and visions surrounding the ongoing genocide against Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-varient relatives here on Turtle Island, also known as North America. This book is a thoughtful call to action, centered around the image of the red dress, and how it's been used by Black-Morsette and others. I received this book as an ARC, and I can't wait to see the finished version.

[ツツ]

This book reads like a collection of journalism articles on past activism events, which is not my favourite form of writing to read. I didn’t read super closely and dont remember much after i finished. Not sure i can mark this book as read.

i think the wordplay on redress and red dress is smart. If i ever own a house i’d want to hang a red dress or dresses on the tree. political statement and macabre in one.

[Enid Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully produced. A haunting exploration of MMIWG.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital arc.

[Jory Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 would recommend, finished it in a day and it was amazing. I am going to continue to go back to this book for a long time.