/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/canada/2020/10/01/this-treatment-is-not-unique-to-joyce-indigenous-medical-workers-say-joyce-echaquans-death-is-the-latest-tragic-symptom-of-a-longstanding-health-care-crisis/justice_for_joyce_vigil.jpg)
On Monday, September 28, Joyce Echaquan — mother of seven, partner to Carol Dube, member of the Atikamekw nation of Manwan, 37 years old – died … or, better, was tortured to death, while lying in a hospital bed in Joliette, in Quebec, Canada. Suffering severe stomach pains, Joyce Echaquan checked herself into a hospital. That was September 26. On September 28, as the pain intensified, nurses administered morphine, even though Joyce Echaquan told them she was allergic to morphine and that she had a pacemaker. As Joyce Echaquan screamed in intensifying pain, the nurses told her, “You’re as stupid as hell”; “Are you done acting stupid? Are you done?”; “You made some bad choices, my dear. What are your children going to think, seeing you like this?”; “She’s good at having sex, more than anything else”. We know this because Joyce Echaquan, in excruciating pain, dying, pulled out her phone, started filming and posting on Facebook. The video is a bit over seven minutes long. Soon after Joyce Echaquan died … or, better, succumbed to torture. Now there’s an `outcry’ in Canada at the treatment Joyce Echaquan received, which was perfectly ordinary treatment for Indigenous women. Outcries have a short life span, especially when the subject is the torture and abuse of Indigenous women.
Joyce Echaquan pulled out her phone because she knew. She knew because it had happened before, to her. She knew because she was an Atikamekw woman. She knew because. Period. She knew that her family would organize and protest, decrying systemic racism. She knew they would hold her in their hearts and souls. She knew as well that the government of Quebec and Canada would deplore the horrible act, would demand an investigation, and ultimately would do absolutely nothing.
Joyce Echaquan told the staff that she should not be given morphine, and they refused to listen. None of this is new. It has happened before, certainly across Canada, and will happen again. Violence against Indigenous, Native, First Nation, Aboriginal women is a core part and principle of the colonization processes and practices that continue, unabated, to this day. Why, for example, it the outcry and outrage only Canadian? Where is the coverage of Joyce Echaquan’s torture in the various new media around the world? The BBC had something, as have AlJazeera and the Guardian, and that is pretty much it. Where is the outrage at the torture of an Indigenous woman who only wanted, needed, and deserved care? Who cares about Joyce Echaquan? Tomorrow, Monday, October 11, is Indigenous People’s Day. It took 48 hours and a little over four centuries to torture Joyce Echaquan to death. Other than family, friends, community, who will remember Joyce Echaquan a year from now? Joyce Echaquan lived in a world in which, on her deathbed, she had to pull out her phone and start recording the torture she was suffering. We continue to live in that world. This is us.

(Photo Credit 1: The Star) (Photo Credit 2: The Guardian / Canadian Press)
La leçon de Joyce Echaquan https://www.lapresse.ca/debats/opinions/2020-10-12/la-lecon-de-joyce-echaquan.php
Joyce Echaquan and racism in Quebec’s health system https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/10-3-podcast-joyce-echaquan-and-racism-in-quebecs-health-system
The horrific treatment of Joyce Echaquan shows Canada’s systemic racism – again https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/10/13/the-horrific-treatment-of-joyce-echaquan-shows-canadas-systemic-racism-again.html
‘It felt like someone was punching me in the chest and trying to rip my heart out’ https://www.nsnews.com/news/it-felt-like-someone-was-punching-me-in-the-chest-and-trying-to-rip-my-heart-out-1.24219866
Powerful protest for Joyce https://www.easterndoor.com/2020/10/15/powerful-protest-for-joyce/
Mort de Joyce Echaquan : comment aider les jeunes Autochtones à surmonter cette épreuve https://ici.radio-canada.ca/espaces-autochtones/1740856/ider-jeunes-drame-joyce-echaquan
Ottawa hosting meeting on healthcare racism amid outrage over Joyce Echaquan death https://globalnews.ca/news/7398940/joyce-echaquan-death-systemic-racism-meeting/
The horrific treatment of Joyce Echaquan shows Canada’s systemic racism – again https://www.airdrietoday.com/beyond-local/the-horrific-treatment-of-joyce-echaquan-shows-canadas-systemic-racism-again-2794483
The death of Joyce Echaquan is sadly not a rare incident of racism in Canada’s health care system. https://capitalcurrent.ca/the-death-of-joyce-echaquan-indigenous-people-know-its-not-unique/
A brief history of medical racism in Canada – http://theconcordian.com/2020/10/a-brief-history-of-medical-racism-in-canada/
Joyce Echaquan’s death: How a decolonizing approach could help tackle racism in health care https://theconversation.com/joyce-echaquans-death-how-a-decolonizing-approach-could-help-tackle-racism-in-health-care-148517
Joyce Echaquan Gets the Final Word https://www.durhamregion.com/opinion-story/10228416-joyce-echaquan-gets-the-final-word/
Indigenous-led clinic to help Quebec community still shaken by Joyce Echaquan’s death https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/10/27/indigenous-led-clinic-to-help-quebec-community-still-shaken-by-joyce-echaquans-death.html
As Aaron Young Knows Too Well, ‘Racism Is Alive and Well’ in Northern Hospitals via @TheTyee https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/10/27/Aaron-Young-Racism-Alive-Northern-BC-Hospitals/
A month after Joyce Echaquan’s death, her family is still waiting for answers | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/joyce-echaquan-family-answers-inquiry-1.5779766
The Push to Make Anti-Racism a Key Medicare Principle https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/10/30/Push-Make-Anti-Racism-Key-Medicare-Principle/
Why it’s dangerous to be disabled and Indigenous in Canada https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2020/11/01/why-its-dangerous-to-be-disabled-and-indigenous-in-canada/
Excising racism from health care requires Indigenous collaboration : https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2020/excising-racism-from-health-care-requires-indigenous-collaboration/
What #JusticeForJoyce should mean for policy-makers https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2020/what-justiceforjoyce-should-mean-for-policy-makers/
Nouvelle mobilisation à la mémoire de Joyce Echaquan à Baie-Comeau https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1746647/joyce-echaquan-atikamekw-pessamit-marche-racisme
Autochtones : en tant que praticiens du domaine de la santé, nous avons honte | JDM https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/11/04/autochtones–en-tant-que-praticiens-du-domaine-de-la-sante-nous-avons-honte
Quebec looks to improve health-care services for Indigenous patients after Joyce Echaquan’s death https://globalnews.ca/news/7446674/quebec-health-care-indigenous-communities/
Quebec promises diversity training for health-care workers in wake of Joyce Echaquan’s death https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/indigenous-minister-health-care-ian-lafreniere-1.5792490
Une œuvre murale en hommage à Joyce Echaquan à Joliette https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/arts-visuels/2020-11-12/une-oeuvre-murale-en-hommage-a-joyce-echaquan-a-joliette.php
Canada must address anti-Indigenous racism within medicine https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2020-11-12/editorials/canada-must-address-anti-indigenous-racism-within-medicine/
Anti-racism instructor gifts beaded portrait medallion to Joyce Echaquan’s husband | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/joyce-echaquan-beaded-medallion-1.5799929
How Quebec’s Minowé clinic is improving Indigenous access to health care | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/quebec-health-care-minowe-clinic-1.5801269
Atikamekw groups call for equitable access to health care following Joyce Echaquan’s death | Globalnews.ca https://globalnews.ca/news/7465253/atikamekw-joyce-echaquan-principles/
Quebec announces working group for ‘nation-to-nation’ discussions with First Nations https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/community/quebec-announces-working-group-for-nation-to-nation-discussions-with-first-nations-1.24240640
The Quebec government and First Nations hit the reset button | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-first-nations-reset-1.5805173
Canada’s Discrimination Against The Indigenous People Living Within Their Borders Must Not Be Tolerated Anymore https://theowp.org/canadas-discrimination-against-the-indigenous-people-living-within-their-borders-must-not-be-tolerated-anymore/
Joyce’s Principle not adopted by Quebec’s National Assembly: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/quebec-rejects-joyces-principle-because-it-calls-for-recognition-of-systemic-racism/
Volunteers come together to make comfort quilts for Joyce Echaquan’s children | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/joyce-echaquan-quilt-1.5818228
Fear of racism deters many Indigenous people from seeking medical treatment, says health-care leader | CBC Radio https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/fear-of-racism-deters-many-indigenous-people-from-seeking-medical-treatment-says-health-care-leader-1.5817730
Elisapie, Ariane Moffatt and Patrick Watson pay tribute to Joyce Echaquan | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/tribute-concert-fundraiser-joyce-echaquan-1.5821512
‘We have a major problem’: Investigation finds ‘pervasive racism’ against Indigenous people in B.C. health care https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10278662–we-have-a-major-problem-investigation-finds-pervasive-racism-against-indigenous-people-in-b-c-health-care/
Head of health board overseeing hospital where Joyce Echaquan died removed from post | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/cisss-lanaudiere-ceo-removed-from-post-1.5826060
Head of regional health authority where Indigenous woman died removed from post https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/head-of-regional-health-authority-where-indigenous-woman-died-removed-from-post/
National chief pans systemic racism during AFN virtual general assembly: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/national-chief-bellegarde-pans-systemic-racism-as-afn-launches-virtual-general-assembly/
Fight against racism in Canada requires chiefs’ constant attention and response—Chief Ghislain Picard https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/12/15/fight-against-racism-in-canada-requires-chiefs-constant-attention-and-responsechief-ghislain-picard.html
Quebec ‘action group’ against racism recommends naming minister dedicated to the issue | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/action-group-report-against-racism-1.5840713
Proposition de création d’un ministère responsable de la lutte contre le racisme au Québec https://www.rcinet.ca/fr/2020/12/15/proposition-de-creation-dun-ministere-responsable-de-la-lutte/
Joyce Echaquan’s husband calls to “put aside our differences” https://www.inspiredtraveler.ca/joyce-echaquans-husband-calls-to-put-aside-our-differences/
My Pandemic Year: Elisapie’s 2020 has been marked by social change https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/local-arts/my-pandemic-year-elisapie-singer-songwriter
Mort de Joyce Echaquan | Les avancées et ce qu’il reste à faire https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/2020-12-19/mort-de-joyce-echaquan/les-avancees-et-ce-qu-il-reste-a-faire.php
Hindsight 2020: Indigenous anger could no longer be ignored https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/hindsight-2020-indigenous-anger-could-no-longer-be-ignored
Joyce Echaquan’s hospital video shocked Quebec https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/top-stories-of-2020-joyce-echaquans-hospital-video-shocked-quebec
A Black doctor alleged racist treatment before dying of covid-19: ‘This is how Black people get killed’ https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/24/covid-susan-moore-medical-racism/
Anishinaabe woman says she was denied treatment in Thunder Bay: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/i-cant-breathe-i-know-theres-something-wrong-family-says-anishinaabe-woman-denied-treatment-after-surgery/
Indigenous health unit at western Quebec hospital building trust, community says | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/maniwaki-indigenous-health-unit-1.5858830
Coroner’s inquest into Joyce Echaquan’s death to be held May 10-27 https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/coroners-inquest-into-joyce-echaquans-death-to-be-held-in-may
Nouvel appel à adopter le Principe de Joyce https://ici.radio-canada.ca/espaces-autochtones/1763269/nouvel-appel-adopter-le-principe-de-joyce