First Nations chief says less awareness in Quebec about national day for survivors

IT'S BECAUSE QUEBEC NATIONALISM DENIES FIRST NATIONS RIGHTS

MONTREAL — As Canada prepares to observe the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador is lamenting Quebec's decision not to officially recognize the holiday.

 LAMENT to express sorrow, mourning, or regret for often demonstratively : mourn … must regret the imprudence, lament the result …

© Provided by The Canadian Press

Many people in the province seem unaware the federal government has designated Sept. 30 as a new statutory holiday to honour lost Indigenous children and survivors of residential schools, Nadia Robertson, spokesperson for the assembly's elected women council, said Wednesday.

Assembly Chief Ghislain Picard told reporters what's important is that people take the time to remember the effect of residential schools on Indigenous communities across Canada.

"Quebec decided not to recognize that day, but beyond the question of whether it's a federal or provincial holiday, we must not forget that the intention is to grieve and to commemorate," Picard said. "This is why tomorrow is important."

The recent discoveries of thousands of unmarked graves at former residential schools sites around Canada have pressured governments to tackle Indigenous issues and have renewed calls for action. But Quebec Premier François Legault in June decided against officially recognizing the day, stating the province had enough statutory holidays.

"I understand very well we have a lot of work to do for reconciliation between our nation and each of the 11 nations,'' Legault said, referring to the First Nations in the province. "We have to honour them, we have to respect them, we have to make sure we don't see racism like we have in the past unfortunately, so there's still a lot of work to do.''

Robertson told reporters she thought the province's decision was unfortunate.

"Reconciliation starts with education," she said. "And when you speak about the Truth and Reconciliation Day happening tomorrow, nobody in Quebec is aware of it."

On Wednesday, Picard marked one year since the assembly unveiled a plan to fight racism and discrimination.

"Reconciliation happens between us, in our communities where we need to reconcile with our past," Picard said, adding that the assembly would launch an awareness campaign to encourage Quebecers to show their commitment to fighting racism.

Picard said Indigenous issues have become more prominent in Quebec society but many residents are still unsure how they can contribute to reconciliation with First Nations peoples.

He unveiled a survey conducted by Leger in which two-thirds of Quebec respondents said their perspectives on First Nations hadn't changed over the last year. The poll also indicated 41 per cent of respondents thought Quebec's government didn't do enough to address racism and discrimination.

"What the results tell me, is that there is an interest to know more," Picard said. "People say they want to contribute but don't know how."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 29, 2021.

Quebec must recognize institutional racism for Joyce Echaquan now: lobby group

A year after Joyce Echaquan livestreamed her mistreatment at the hands of health-care workers in the hours before her untimely and preventable death, a locally-based lobby organization is calling on the provincial government to implement Joyce’s Principle across the province to ensure no Indigenous person might ever again experience that level of willful racism by the people tasked with their care.

“A year has passed since Ms. Echaquan's death and despite repeated requests from Indigenous organizations, your government has unfortunately refused to listen to reason and adopt Joyce's Principle,” wrote Quebec Native Women president Viviane Michel in a letter to Quebec Premier Francois Legault, whose government has yet to admit publicly to any level of institutional racism.

“Aimed at ensuring equitable access, without discrimination, to all health and social services, Joyce’s Principle would provide a guarantee to Indigenous people, particularly Indigenous women, who experience racism and systemic discrimination,” Michel continued.

In June, a coroner’s inquest into her death heard that members of the Atikamekw community of Manawan routinely avoid the Joliette hospital where Echaquan spent her last, agonizing hours. The world was captivated by the images of the 37-year-old mother of seven livestream on Facebook Live as she cried out in pain to no avail, mocked and neglected. She died a few hours later.

On Tuesday, members of the Atikamekw community, Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafreniere, Deputy Premier Genevieve Guilbeault, gathered behind that same hospital to hold a vigil for Echaquan.

Michel wrote that her organization has seen firsthand that Indigenous women’s mistreatment and it needs to end now – and it starts with justice for Joyce Echaquan.

“As part of our mission to promote and defend the rights of Indigenous women, we wish to bring justice to Joyce and her family, her community and all Indigenous women who do not have access to services free of racism and systemic discrimination,” she said.

The Chief of the Manawan Atikamekw First Nation said while he is conscious that some progress has been made, a feeling amongst the community is that no change will come out of this senseless tragedy.

"It's a confusing day for people," Chief Constant Awashish said. "We want something better for future generations and better treatment for First Nations in public services, but also there is this anxiety that Joyce Echaquan gave her life for no reason,” he said, adding he would like Quebec to officially recognize what Indigenous people already know innately – that racism exists on a systemic level in the province.

"The feeling of anxiety is that we want the government to recognize the situation and call it by its real name," he added, referring to the provincial government's refusal to use the term ‘systemic racism’ to describe the unequal playing field faced by Indigenous people in Quebec.

Michel agreed, saying in her letter that in order to solve the problem, the government must first recognize there is a problem.

“Your government claims to be taking concrete action to combat racism in Quebec, but does not explicitly recognize racism and systemic discrimination in its public services. However, the Government of Canada recognizes discrimination and racism in institutions. QNW wishes to state once again that it is impossible to work on this issue if the situation is not addressed and recognized in Quebec,” she wrote, adding that many Indigenous women choose to avoid public services, to their detriment, for fear of being abused. “Your reluctance to not recognize systemic racism and discrimination is not justified considering that Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry denounces the genocide perpetuated against Indigenous women. Joyce Echaquan lost her life and many Indigenous women refuse to access public services for fear of abuse. You believe that you are working hand in hand with Indigenous communities on a nation-to-nation basis, but this is not possible until racism and systemic discrimination are acknowledged.”

Marc Lalonde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter,  Sept. 29, 2021