Women's Memorial March marks 35th year with ministers' statement of support

On Feb. 14, 2026, Ministers Rebecca Alty, Mandy Gull‑Masty, Rebecca Chartrand and Rechie Valdez issued a joint statement supporting the 35th Annual Women's Memorial March and reported the Red Dress Alert pilot engagement has concluded with a final report alongside ongoing federal work on the Federal Pathway and National Action Plan addressing missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

On Feb. 14, 2026, four federal ministers released a joint statement marking the 35th Annual Women's Memorial March. The ministers named Rebecca Alty, Mandy Gull‑Masty, Rebecca Chartrand and Rechie Valdez. They recalled that the march began in 1992 after the murder of a First Nations woman in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and said the event continues to call for better safety and supports for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. The statement summarized recent federal steps and described ongoing collaborative work to address these harms. Key points: - Ministers Rebecca Alty, Mandy Gull‑Masty, Rebecca Chartrand and Rechie Valdez issued the Feb. 14 statement in support of the 35th Annual Women's Memorial March. - The Red Dress Alert pilot project engagement has concluded and a final report was released; the alert is described as a mechanism to notify communities when an Indigenous woman, girl or 2SLGBTQI+ person goes missing. - The statement says the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People was advanced by expanding Indigenous‑led initiatives, strengthening local partnerships, and increasing access to culturally grounded supports. - Work continues under the National Action Plan to End Gender‑based Violence, including efforts under Pillar #4 focused on Indigenous‑led approaches. - At the 2026 national Indigenous‑federal‑provincial‑territorial meeting on MMIWG2S, partners developed recommendations to reduce safety risks linked to major project development, including considerations related to human trafficking and sexual exploitation. - The statement lists a national, toll‑free 24/7 crisis line for mental health support related to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people: 1‑844‑413‑6649. Summary: The ministers' statement connects the march's historical call for action with recent federal initiatives and reports aimed at improving safety and supports for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. It notes completion of the Red Dress Alert pilot engagement, continued work on the Federal Pathway and the National Action Plan, and recent recommendations from the 2026 national meeting. Next steps were described as continued Indigenous‑led work and partnership implementation.