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Louis Riel Day – Monday, February 17. View holiday hours for City of Winnipeg facilities and services.

Louis Riel Day – Monday, February 17. View holiday hours for City of Winnipeg facilities and services.

Indigenous Relations Division

Rainbow Butterfly

MMIWG2S+ Red dress hanging at city hall building

Rainbow Butterfly stands as a permanent symbol of love, peace, and protection for Indigenous women, girls, gender-diverse individuals, and Two-Spirit people. Located in St. John’s Park, she represents the energy and spirit of ancestors, bringing together community members to honor and reflect on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Gender-Diverse, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+).

The vision for Rainbow Butterfly began in 2018, driven and inspired by family members of MMIWG2S+. Initially conceived as a "Red Dress Warming Hut" to raise awareness about the MMIWG2S+ crisis, the journey faced challenges, including securing a permanent space.

Rainbow Butterfly’s permanent home at St. John’s Park was a collective effort supported by Indigenous voices and allies, advocates, family members, and matriarchs, culminating in her ceremonial welcoming on August 19, 2024. The space honours and educates the public on the sacredness of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse peoples while fostering a place of safety, love, and reconciliation, to which there is a much greater vision.

We invite you to watch the Rainbow Butterfly video (7min), and to hear the voices of matriarchs that describe Rainbow Butterfly’s journey as a place for reflection, the challenges Rainbow Butterfly faced to be situated in a permanent space, similar to Indigenous women and gender diverse peoples, and the allyship that is necessary to implement measures to make Winnipeg a safe place for Indigenous women, girls, gender-diverse and two-spirited peoples to live free of violence and discrimination.

More about Rainbow Butterfly

The shelter’s inner space includes panels with the 231 Calls for Justice, inviting families to commemorate victims by tying their names to the structure. This interactive space encourages reflection, education, and a commitment to stopping abuse and harm against Indigenous peoples.

Rainbow Butterfly's journey included struggles, from temporary placement at Kildonan Park to acts of graffiti and vandalism. Despite these setbacks, the city of Winnipeg remains committed to collaborating with the community to ensure Rainbow Butterfly’s safety and to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis of MMIWG2S+ in the city. This effort reflects the importance of allyship and the collective responsibility to honor Indigenous rights and protect those at risk.

Rainbow Butterfly is not just a physical space but a powerful symbol of Indigenous matriarchal strength, advocacy, and solutions to prevent further harm. The project is a call to action to recognize and respect the sacredness of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse peoples.  To book Rainbow Butterfly please contact

Last update: December 11, 2024

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