This article discusses topics which may negatively impact the reader due to its subject matter. If you are affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people and require support, call 1-844-413-6649 or visit the Government of Canada website for more resources.
For the third year, hundreds of people wearing red in honour of the many Missing Murdered Indigenous Women, Children and Two-Spirit individuals made their way along the lake shore in Penticton on a path lined with red dresses.
May 5 is known as Red Dress Day, the symbol embodying all those who have become lost to their families, and the red dress serves as a powerful reminder of the work that still lies ahead to achieve justice and equity for all.
The walk began at the S.S. Sicamous and made its way to Rotary Park, where everyone gathered in a circle to hear from a few speakers and members of the community willing to share their family's stories.
"I have a missing family member. My auntie went missing in the mid-1980s in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver," said Leslie Fabriz, a You Empowered Strong coordinator with the Okanagan Nation Alliance. "She disappeared without a trace and I come to these gatherings, and every morning I think to myself, how can a person just disappear?
"How can we have family members who are loved ones and who are mothers and sisters and daughters and granddaughters and how can we just lose them and nobody take notice?"
Each year, the walk in Penticton has continued to grow. The first walk in 2023 saw about 50 people, and in 2024 there were about 200. This year was closer to 300 who joined the walk, either at the start or as it made it's way to the park.
The walk in 2024 was particularly poignant, coming just a few months after the news that Grace Robotti, who received a life sentence for murdering Roxanne Louie in 2015 by beating her 26 times with a crowbar, was granted day parole.
The decision by the parole board led to protests, including on the steps of the Penticton courthouse by members of the community and syilx Chiefs.
"This message that we are dedicated to carry on with each and every year, unfortunately we have to bring forward the same message each and every year," Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel said at the 2025 walk. "We have to keep the message going to remind people of the things that continue to this day against our women. I stand here not as an elected official; I stand here as a father; a grandfather; an uncle.
"We need to do more, we need to step forward more and look after our women."
The final report following the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls delivered 231 calls for action and change. Just like in 2024, those who walked are still waiting for those calls to be fully enacted.
"Two of them have been implemented since that that national inquiry, that is a calling card of how we are being prioritized," Fabriz said. "I throw my hands up for all of you who made coming here today a priority. From a family member and from a community worker, doing this work for so long, seeing our little rallies become huge community events just really warms my heart. Take this message with you."
