100 red dresses call attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Movement

What’s Happening: A collection of more than 100 red dresses are displayed around Mt. Pleasant, calling attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Movement. The dresses are hosted at 10 sites throughout town. The “No More Stolen Sisters Red Dress Exhibits” run through May. Exhibit sites include:
 

• Art Reach of Mid Michigan
• McLaren Central Michigan
• Park and Clark Historical Libraries on CMU’s campus
• Veterans Memorial Library
• Soaring Eagle Casino
• Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel
• Mid Michigan College, Mt. Pleasant campus
• CMU Museum of Cultural and Natural History
• Ziibiwing Center
• Black Elk Building, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s corporate offices

An event including coalition members will offer further awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Movement on May 16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Broadway Park in Mt. Pleasant, located at 2451 Nish Na Be Among Dr. Guest speakers will share history, and further information and personal stories, shedding light on the movement and efforts to address missing and murdered Indigenous people. This event is open to the public.

Photo Courtesy the Mt. Pleasant Zonta ClubRed Dresses line the streets of Mt. Pleasant during the “No More Stolen Sisters” movement.

Why It’s Important: Ending violence against women is a mission of the 100-year-old international Zonta organization. When Ruth Helwig, president of the Zonta Club of Mt. Pleasant, learned about other Zonta Clubs' involvement with the effort to help spread the word about the movement, she thought the Mt. Pleasant Zonta Club should do something locally to help.

Who’s Involved: Several community organizations have come together to support the movement, including SCIT Behavioral Health Victim Services, the Zonta Club of Mt. Pleasant, RISE Advocacy, McLaren Central Michigan, and the CMU Museum of Cultural and Natural History. Dresses were collected at Trillium Fine Clothing, the Commission on Aging, the SCIT Behavioral Health Victim Services, McLaren Central Michigan and the ICDC Thrift Store.

“The number of dresses collected exceeded our conservative goal for the first year,” said Helwig. “We collected dresses from March to mid-April. We received donations from women’s personal closets, we scoured local thrift stores, and some women purchased dresses while traveling outside of town.” 

Photo Courtesy the Mt. Pleasant Zonta ClubA Red Dress Exhibit on display in Mt. Pleasant
What They’re Saying: Helwig hopes that in bringing the “No More Stolen Sisters Red Dress Exhibits” to Mt. Pleasant, the community can learn more about the staggering numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous people and find ways to help locally. Based on the community’s response to this effort in its first year, the Zonta Club’s goal is to expand it and host it annually.

How You Can Help: Check out the red dress exhibits around town through May and attend the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Movement on May 16 to learn more about the effort and ways to get involved in the initiative.