First Blue Jean Jacket Day in Quesnel Remembering Those Lost and Gone

The Echen Healing Society organized the Quesnel’s first Blue Jean Jacket Day.

Chad Stump, the Executive Director of the Echen Healing Society, says Blue Jean Jacket Day is a day akin to Red Dress Day, spreading awareness of the missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“Today is focused on our warrior men and boys that have gone missing,” says Stump. “We always forget that our young warriors, and men also need support in their young lives, and rest of their lives.”

The first Blue Jean Jacket Day was on June 6, 2023, and started in Edmonton, Alberta. Organized by a singer–songwriter, Stephanie Harpe. Harpe chose the day exactly one month after Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Day, creating space to spread awareness of the struggles of Indigenous Men and Boys, choosing the denim jacket as a symbol of power to remember those missing and lost.

“The Blue Jean Jacket, it’s not just for our men and boys, but women also wear it. The colour blue symbolizes our men, boys, all of our warriors in our culture. We wanted to honour them,” says Stump, who was inspired by Harpe’s organizing of the Blue Jean Jacket Day to host a day in Quesnel.

“We wanted a symbol for the men of our communities that are no longer with us, gone missing or just gone. We also wanted to honour where this day starts, Alberta. We’re told that Blue is also a colour of strength for Indigenous there too.”

Stump says when he contacted Harpe, and said she “was ecstatic” about a Blue Jean Jacket Day being in Quesnel, and spreading across the country.

First Nations in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, are hosting a Blue Jean Jacket Day. The day has also ‘grown strong roots’ across Alberta, and the Prairies.

Today’s (June 6) events in Quesnel start at 11 am at Baker Creek Park, and go until 5 pm. With drumming and dancing, and special songs written for this occasion.

Prevention and Social Organizations in the communities of Quesnel are in attendance to connect with other organizations and connect with those in need. Local First Nations are also sponsoring the Day.

“We want to have somewhere where all these services can gather and those who need them can find them all,” says Stump. “We’re really proud to be apart of the discussions and information sharing, because not everyone knows the help is out there.”

Blue Jean Jacket Day will go until 5 pm on June 6, and will be full of reflections, rememberance, and hanging out over a good warm cup of coffee with bannock.