A Visible Reminder: Jingle Dress Represents OPS Commitment to Indigenous Women and Girls

As of November 17, 2025, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) central station displays a Jingle Dress. The dress, presented earlier in the year by the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition (OAC), serves as a continuous reminder of our commitment to help ensure the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people in the City of Ottawa.

The ceremony marking its placement was meaningful and respectful. Receiving a Jingle Dress is considered a high honour, and it carries significant expectations and responsibilities. For the OPS, it symbolizes the ongoing work required to strengthen trust, improve safety, and uphold its commitments to Indigenous communities.

This commitment aligns with the meaning of May 5—Canada’s National Day of Awareness and Remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day. Métis artist Jaime Black created the Red Dress Project as “an aesthetic response to this critical national issue,” drawing attention to the ongoing crisis rooted in the impacts of colonization.

In Canada, more than six in ten (63%) Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. These disproportionately high rates of violence affect all aspects of life, including health, safety, access to services, and representation in research.

On November 17th, 2025, the OAC formally gifted the Jingle Dress to the OPS to recognize the partnership developed between both organizations in supporting the safety of Indigenous women and girls in Ottawa. This important gift will remain with OPS and now stands as a visible reminder of that responsibility and of the work still required to promote safety, healing, and accountability.

Read more about OPS’ commitment to reconciliation and building relationships based on respect, cooperation, and partnership as the foundation for transformative change, at ottawapolice.ca/reconciliation.