Hundreds of people gathered in Cranbrook on May 5, 2026, to mark a respectful Red Dress Day.
Photos by Ktunaxa Nation Council
The event to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people featured Ktunaxa speakers Bonnie Harvey and Janice Alpine and was opened by the Suʔkni Singers.
School District 5, ʔaq̓am and Ktunaxa Nation Council collaborated and co-hosted the MMIW2S event.
This year, students from Laurie Middle School in Cranbrook and ʔaq̓amnik̓ Elementary School at ʔaq̓am attended.
Some students read out the names of women and girls who have gone missing or were murdered in Canada.
A few students also read brief, impactful poems they wrote.
Thank you to the Indigenous Liaison team at SD5!
Afterward, Laurie students walked back to the school along a route specially marked with red dresses, while other attendees walked to the Ktunaxa Nation Council building for a lunch under the May trees.
Lunch was prepared and hosted by ʔaq̓am staff, and the food was delicious.
Thank you to food sponsors Mr. Mikes Cranbrook, A&W Cranbrook, Tim Hortons Cranbrook and Starbucks Cranbrook, as well as Safeway Cranbrook.
Thank you to the main event sponsor, Columbia Basin Trust, and to all attendees who showed their support.
