Montreal – In reaction to the death of Joyce Echaquan under unacceptable circumstances on September 28th at the Joliette Hospital, Marie-Christine Fiset, Head of Media of Greenpeace Canada, commented :<\/p>\n\n
“It is abhorrent to learn of the circumstances in which Joyce Echaquan, a 37-year-old Atikamekw woman, died in a public hospital. This tragic event came almost one year to the day after the publication of the Viens Commission Report and one day before the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) released its own action plan on systemic racism and discrimination. It underlines the urgency of the actions we must take as a society.<\/p>\n\n
The violence of the comments heard in the video broadcast live on Facebook by Ms. Echaquan just before her death is intolerable and is further evidence, if any were needed, of the systemic racism, racial injustice, and brutality faced by Indigenous and racialized communities across Canada when they access public services.<\/p>\n\n
It is imperative that all of us, governments and civil society, take action and take concrete steps to achieve the “better living together” called for by Chief Ghislain Picard in his action plan. We must without delay educate ourselves on the realities that these communities live day after day, publicly recognize the systemic racism that they are victims of and collectively demand justice for Joyce Echaquan and her family.<\/p>\n\n
Today, we stand with Ms. Echaquan’s family, her seven children, and Indigenous peoples everywhere in their struggles for their rights. Their rights to care, dignity, life, self-determination, and ultimately, justice\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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