Beading Circle: Red Dress Day 2023
- Date
- May 03, 2023
- Time
- 5:00 PM EDT - 7:00 PM EDT
- Location
- KHW-372-Aboriginal Multipurpose Student Lounge
- Open To
- Indigenous community members at Toronto Metropolitan University
- Contact
- Cher Trudeau at cktrudeau@torontomu.ca
Photo by Sam Javanrouh
Aboriginal Initiatives in the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) is pleased to invite the Indigenous community at TMU (including students, staff, faculty and alumni) to a beading workshop in honour of Red Dress Day on May 5.
Come make a red dress brooch with Cher Trudeau, administrative assistant in the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives and a textile artist.
Beading and engaging in creative activities are known to be therapeutic. Beading can be a soothing stress reliever, a productive way to pass time, and a way to keep hands busy and minds at ease. It can help keep you from focusing too much on all of the strong emotions associated with grief and trauma at once, giving you a chance to turn your focus, however temporarily, on maintaining the pattern of your beadwork.
Learn brick stitch together, and/or utilize a previously taught technique of edge stitching. Get creative with embellishments! A spirit nourishing meal will also be provided.
Due to the sensitive nature of this day, the workshop is open only to Indigenous community members at TMU. Thank you for respecting this space.
This event is organized by Aboriginal Initiatives in OVPECI, with thanks and appreciation to Human Resources for their contributions and sponsorship.
About Cher Trudeau
Cher Trudeau is an Anishinaabe/Mohawk mother, artist and active member of Toronto’s urban Indigenous community. She is also the administrative assistant for Aboriginal Initiatives in the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion and coordinator for the Aboriginal Education Council.
Cher most recently has a couple of her works displayed in Guelph, ON as a part of the larger exhibit entitled “Breathe (external link) ” and has an art piece as part of the permanent collection of the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, ON.
About Red Dress Day
Red Dress Day, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (external link) and Two-Spirit (external link) People, is observed annually on May 5. This day honours and brings awareness to the thousands of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people who have been subject to disproportionate violence in Canada. Red Dress Day was inspired by Métis (external link) artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project installation, in which she hung empty, red dresses to represent the missing and murdered women. Red dresses have become symbolic of the crisis as a result of her installation.
About the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives
Aboriginal Initiatives is one of the units that make up the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI). Led by Monica McKay, the unit provides assistance and support to the Aboriginal community at TMU, working to foster successful and meaningful academic experiences without barriers.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Cher Trudeau at cktrudeau@torontomu.ca