Joyce’s Principle

The death of Joyce Echaquan, which occurred in abject circumstances on September 28, 2020, at the Joliette Hospital Center in Lanaudière, Quebec, near the Atikamekw community of Manawan, sparked the proceedings that led to the presentation of this brief. In addition, the events occurred in a hospital center that was formally covered by the final report of the Commission Viens, Public Inquiry Commission on Relations between Indigenous Peoples and Certain Public Services in Quebec, presented on September 29, 2019, which makes the situation all the more intolerable. In fact, Joliette Hospital Center was part of the investigation, which stated in its final report that "it seems impossible to deny the systemic discrimination members of the First Nations and Inuit face in their relations with the public service subjects of the investigation."

Following the death of Joyce Echaquan, the time for reflection has passed. The conclusions are clear: it is time for governments to take a strong stance against systemic racism lived by Indigenous people in healthcare and social services.

Click here to read how Joyce's Principle is a step towards this transition.

For more information on Joyce’s Principle, visit https://principedejoyce.com/