By Canadian Press

Racism common in Montreal hospitals says head of Native Women’s Shelter

Sep 30, 2020 | 12:49 PM

MONTREAL — The executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal says racism against Indigenous people is so common at local hospitals that her organization escorts clients to medical visits.

Nakuset, who has only one name, said today those escorts regularly record and report racist comments by medical staff.

On Monday, Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman, filmed nurses making derogatory comments toward her as she lay dying in a hospital bed in Joliette, Que., northeast of Montreal.

Echaquan’s death took place almost a year to the day after a public inquiry released 142 recommendations aimed at improving Indigenous peoples’ access to government services.

Quebec’s Indigenous Affairs Minister Sylvie D’Amours said today in a news release that 51 of those recommendations have been adopted or are in the process of being implemented.

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Dominique Anglade, the leader of Quebec’s Official Opposition, called that release insulting and says it shows D’Amours is no longer fit to be a cabinet minister.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2020.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press