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30 # R I S I N G Y O U T H C O M M U N I T Y I M P A C T The REDress Project was created by Métis artist Jamie Black to raise awareness of the alarming numbers associated with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. After visiting the REDress Exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, #RisingYouth grantee Mackenzie Velders was moved to take action on this issue. With her grant, MacKenzie brought the necessary materials to bring the REDress Project to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Symbolizing the Indigenous women who are stolen from their families, an arrangement of red dresses was displayed in a public place. The red dresses traveled to three different high schools in the region: Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Fort McMurray Composite High School, and Bill Woodward High School. Many students shared pictures of the exhibit on social media platforms helping to reach a much larger audience and initiating conversations about this issue across multiple generations. " Not only was there verbal communication about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, but there was also discussion about this issue on social media. I believe that the first step to change is a conversation, and I am proud of myself for starting the necessary conversation in my community." MACKENZIE VELDERS The REDress Project Mackenzie Velders | $750 Fort McMurray, Alberta ALBERTA Fort McMurray is on Cree (Upstream People, Woods), Dene territory, and Métis settlement and is part of Treaty 8. LEARN MORE AT WWW.WHOSE.LAND

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