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Indigenous leader tells coroner’s inquest community haunted by Joyce Echaquan’s death

Jun 1, 2021 | 10:31 AM

MONTREAL — Indigenous leaders are renewing their calls for the Quebec government to recognize systemic racism in the province’s health-care system.

Paul-Émile Ottawa, chief of the Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan, testified today at the coroner’s inquest into the death of Joyce Echaquan and said her passing has left an open wound in the community, located about 250 kilometres north of Montreal.

Ottawa’s recommendations include having doctors and other health-care staff trained in school on the realities of the country’s Indigenous peoples, simplifying the hospital complaints process, and recognizing systemic racism.

Echaquan, a 37-year-old Atikamekw mother of seven, filmed herself on Facebook Live as a nurse and an orderly were heard making derogatory comments shortly before her death last September at a hospital northeast of Montreal.

Constant Awashish, grand chief of the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw, told the inquiry today that Quebec Premier François Legault should reflect carefully on the issue of systemic racism instead of denying it exists.

Echaquan’s husband or daughter is expected to be the final witness later today, before lawyers deliver their final representations Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2021.

The Canadian Press