For Immediate Release

May 4, 2026

Oneida Nation of the Thames: A Commitment to the Safety and Dignity of Our Generations

On May 5, there will be red dresses hung throughout our community and across the country. There are not merely decorations; they are empty spaces where our sisters, mothers, daughters, and gender-diverse relatives should be. On Red Dress Day, the Oneida Nation of the Thames honors these lives and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the safety and healing of our families.

May 5 is a day of remembrance, but it must also be a call to action.

Beyond Symbols: The Necessity of Systemic Change

The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S) is a direct result of deep-seated systemic failures. These are not isolated tragedies. As outlined through the National Inquiry, the violence our people face is rooted in a history of colonialism, racism, and misogyny that continues to permeate policing, justice, healthcare, and child welfare systems.

While awareness is a starting point, it is not a solution. The Oneida Nation calls for a transition from symbolic gestures to measurable, transparent action. The 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry provide a necessary and clear roadmap that must be implemented with urgency by all levels of government. These actions require urgency and transparency. We do not seek more promises; we demand accountability for the systems that have failed to protect our people at all levels of government.

Our Sovereign Responsibility

As a Nation, we hold a sacred duty to protect the rights and dignity of our community members. Our work is focused on:

• Supporting the Living: Providing pathways for healing and strength for families and survivors who carry the weight of grief and unanswered questions.
• Upholding Jurisdiction: Ensuring that solutions and safety measures respect First Nations jurisdiction and are led by the needs of our own people.
• Demanding Transparency: Insisting that government commitments to the 231 Calls for Justice are tracked and reported with honesty.

A Community Call to Action

We ask our neighbors and allies to join us in this sustained commitment. True support means:

• Learning: Engaging deeply with the 231 Calls for Justice to understand the full scale of the work required.
• Challenging Bias: Actively confronting racism and gender-based violence within your own circles and institutions.
• Standing with Families: Uplifting the voices of survivors and ensuring that the memory of those lost is never allowed to fade.

The Oneida Nation of the Thames will not let the memory of our relatives pass into silence. We stand alongside all Nations and relations to ensure a future where the next generation grows up safe, valued, and protected.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Clara Hill, Communications Office

Oneida Nation of the Thames

clara.hill@oneida.on.ca | (519) 652-6161 ext. 812