This year, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) is partnering with Tikinagan Child and Family Services to get the word out on Abitewaapisowikiishikaa – Dress Purple Day.
What is Abitewaapisowikiishikaa?
Abitewaapisowikiishikaa means Dress Purple Day in Anishinaabemowin. Every year, Tikinagan Child and Family Services, along with Children’s Aid Societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies across the province, raise awareness about the important role that individuals and communities play in supporting children, youth, and families. This year Abitewaapisowikiishikaa (Dress Purple Day) is celebrated on October 16, 2025.
Wearing purple shows that:
- You speak up for the safety of children and youth in your community.
- You are a safe person children and youth can come to if they are feeling uncomfortable or unsafe.
- You support children and youth’s right to safety and well-being in all spaces.
Abitewaapisowikiishikaa (Dress Purple Day) gives us the opportunity to show our communities that we are here for our children, youth, and families as a resource. Our philosophy, Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin, doesn’t just include Tikinagan staff. It includes the whole community as we all work together to raise our children. We hope to see everyone wearing purple as a way to show that they are part of the circle of care.
Why engage with children and youth?
- To ensure all children and youth know about their right to safety and well-being in all spaces.
- To encourage children and youth to speak up whenever they are feeling uncomfortable or unsafe.
- To bring awareness about the adults that are there for children and youth if they need help.
Abitewaapisowikiishikaa (Dress Purple Day) offers an opportunity to encourage everyone to speak up for every child and youth’s right to safety and well-being in all spaces. Not just physical safety and well-being—children and youth have the right to have their intersectional identity, which includes culture, race, sexual orientation, and gender identity, protected, and supported in all spaces.
For more information, visit Dress Purple Day – Tikinagan
Show your support on social media by posting your purple pictures with the hashtags #IDressPurpleBecause and #IDressPurple
For more information, please contact:
Nick Sherman
Communications Manager
807-356-4684
communications@slfnha.com
