Resolving the many questions raised by the tragic death of 37-year-old Atikamekw woman Joyce Echaquan four years ago to the day at the Lanaudière Regional Hospital Center is a social project that will take several more years according to the Minister of Community Relations. First Nations and Inuit.
• Also read: Death of Joyce Echaquan: 3 years later, have things changed?
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The event caused a real shock wave in Quebec after the publication of a video where the mother was dying on her hospital bed while being insulted by the nursing staff.
“There is a lot of work that has been done, it is a social project and it will take several more years. I also understand the community members who say that it is long and that it takes time, but we will not correct 400 years of history in a few weeks, a few months or a few years. It’s a step in the right direction,” admitted Minister Ian Lafrenière in an interview with TVA Nouvelles.
The minister, however, confirmed that the work continued, but that it required the support of everyone to change things.
An annual gathering in memory of Joyce Echaquan was also organized on Saturday in Montreal. People were invited there to honor the courage of the mother.
Capture TVA
“I dare to hope that the terms “cultural security” and “reconciliation” will finally take on their full meaning with the adoption of the Joyce Principle by the government of Quebec. […] One thing is certain: we continue to work hard to put in place tools so that Indigenous people know their health rights and have them respected,” said Jennifer Petiquay-Dufresne, executive director of the Office of the Joyce Principle. , in a press release published Saturday evening.
More than a hundred people gathered at this gathering organized by the Let’s Take Care of Social Justice Collective and with the support of the Office of the Joyce Principle.
“Our vision, which is to decolonize the conventional public health system to build a system based on a united and community vision of health anchored in a perspective of social justice, is what we base ourselves on to fight against injustices and to do our part to put an end to systemic racism and medical colonialism,” attested the members of the Let’s Take Care of Social Justice Collective.
For the occasion, Prime Minister François Legault expressed a “special thought for the family, loved ones and community of Joyce Echaquan”, in his X account.
“Four years ago now, Joyce died in terrible circumstances. We must continue to fight against these behaviors which have no place in our society,” he added.
In its X account, the Government of Canada For/On First Nations, Inuit and Métis also spoke out.
“On the anniversary of the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan, let us remember that all indigenous peoples have the right to health care adapted to their culture, without discrimination. The #JoycePrinciple enforces these rights,” we can read.
See the full explanation in the video above.
