A commemorative mass in honor of Joyce Echaquan took place on Saturday in the cathedral of Joliette. The moment of meditation comes to close a week when the death of the Atikamekw mother of a family gave rise to a heated debate on systemic racism in Quebec.
The babbling of children echoed along with the homily and sacred songs in Joliette Cathedral at the end of the day on Saturday, during a mass in honor of Joyce Echaquan and her family. Organized by the diocese of Joliette and the Atikamekw community of Manawan, the ceremony, conducted in both languages, calls for healing, justice and reconciliation.
The atmosphere is solemn and full of emotions in the more than century-old building in Lanaudière. Chaired by Mgr Louis Corriveau and members of the pastoral committee of Manawan, a rite of purification with sage, songs to the sound of the drum, poetry and dance are added to prayers and testimonies.
PHOTO PASCAL RATTHÉ, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
At least 200 people are present for the event, bringing together members of the Manawan community and the local population. The bereaved family of the late husband – her husband Carol Dubé, her children and her parents – are on site. Paul-Émile Ottawa, Chief of the Manawan Band Council, Suzanne Dauphin, Mayor of Notre-Dame-des-Prairies and Luc Beauséjour, City Councilor of the City of Joliette, also attended the event.
Ian Lafrenière, Minister of Native Affairs, finally decided not to attend, because he “wanted to leave this moment to the family today,” said his press secretary Mathieu Durocher.
Recall that Joyce Echaquan, 37, died on September 28, 2020 at Joliette hospital under racist insults from nursing staff. The video she filmed shortly before she died shook the whole country and became a symbol of the fight against racism and prejudice against indigenous people in the province.
“When they closed your eyes, you opened ours,” reads a poster at the front of the cathedral.
A week full of debates
Commemorations in memory of Joyce Echaquan have alternated this week with intense debates on the existence of systemic racism in Quebec.
On Friday, the filing of the report of the public inquiry into the death of the Atikamekw woman, by the Coroner’s Office, recommended in particular that the government of François Legault recognize the existence of systemic racism in Quebec public institutions and work to put it into effect. end.
The prime minister’s office said it would not comment until Tuesday on the report’s findings “out of respect for the family and loved ones of Joyce Echaquan, as well as for the work of the chief coroner.” “Géhane Kamel, the chief coroner, will not speak publicly before Tuesday either, as will the family of Mr.me Echaquan.
Quebec, however, maintains its position on the issue of systemic racism against indigenous people, Geneviève Guilbault, Minister of Public Security, and Éric Caire, Minister responsible for government digital transformation, said on the sidelines of announcements on Friday. “On systemic racism, I think that everything has been said. Our position on this is that we must fight against racism through concrete actions, ”Geneviève Guilbault said in Quebec on Friday.
The Liberal Party of Quebec and Quebec solidaire urged the Premier of Quebec to change his mind. Liberal leader Dominique Anglade affirmed that “if we do not recognize that biases have an impact, especially on indigenous communities, we are not able to move forward. ”
“One day is Ottawa, the next day is Quebec, tweeted Friday on Twitter Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. Stop [vous] pointing fingers. No one is in a position to teach anyone a lesson. Your justice departments are working day and night to reduce the scope of indigenous law, ”he said on Friday.