Dress Purple Day - Tikinagan

What is Abitewaapisowikiishikaa?

Abitewaapisowikiishikaa means Dress Purple Day in Anishiniimowin. 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 29, 2026.

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.

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.

Show your support on social media by posting your purple pictures with the hashtags #IDressPurpleBecause and #IDressPurple

Youth Advocate Calls on Communities to Dress Purple this October

For youth like Memekwe Morriseau from Weagamow First Nation, wearing purple this October is an action that speaks louder than words. It’s an opportunity to start important conversations about safety, well-being, and how a community can work together to support children and youth. Read more about why Memekwe is dressing purple this October!

Why do you dress purple?

Calling all kids and youth, we want to see your purple pics and bold Beasties! Send your Beasties to communications@tikinagan.org and you could see your creation on next year’s Beastie stickers!