1 year after Joyce Echaquan's death, Indigenous leaders say issues of racism in health-care persist

Exactly one year has passed since 37-year-old Atikamekw woman Joyce Echaquan died of pulmonary edema at a hospital in Joliette, Que. This morning at 11 a.m., her community is holding a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary in front of the hospital. A coalition of health-care workers is also planning a vigil in Montreal this evening.

Echaquan's death sparked widespread outrage and prompted calls to end racism in the health-care system after the mother of seven recorded and broadcast a video of herself crying in pain while nurses mocked and insulted her during her final hours.

Twelve months later, Indigenous people in Quebec still face barriers and discrimination when accessing health services. 

"It's very important to commemorate this anniversary because [the problem] is still ongoing," said Stanley Vollant, an Innu surgeon from Pessamit, Que., who works at the Notre-Dame hospital in Montreal. 

The government has taken some steps to remedy the situation, such as providing mandatory sensitivity training for everyone working at the Joliette hospital, according to Ian Lafrenière, the minister responsible for Indigenous affairs.

The province is also hiring someone from the Manawan community to handle complaints of discrimination at the Lanaudière health authority, he said.

The minister said he is now working to expand what's been done in Joliette to other local health authorities across the province.