Plus ça change

Georges-Hervé Awashish dies in Chicoutimi hospital after complaining about racist slurs

by Patrick Quinn

Just weeks after Joyce Echaquan’s death amid a flurry of racist insults in a Joliette hospital ignited national out rage, another Quebec hospital is under scrutiny for slurs directed at an Indigenous man in the days before he died.

As a patient at the Hôpital de that he could still hear the nurses’ Chicoutimi, Georges-Hervé Awashish voices in his head and was taking woke up in the night to use the bath- anxiety medication. room when he allegedly overheard Following the 53-year-old’s death nurses laughing about the Echaquan October 11, the regional health case. He quoted them saying, “We authority that oversees the hospital, have one, an Indian asleep in his the CIUSSS du Saguenay–Lac-Saintroom. We should inject him with toxic Jean, confirmed it had launched an chemicals. His problem will be fixed, investigation into his allegations and he doesn’t walk anyways.” the circumstances surrounding his

Unable to get death. back to sleep, “I want the Awashish asked world to know that his son to come it won’t stay like get him out of the hospital. When “We should this what he experienced there,” he was forced to inject him with his daughter return days later Kimberley Sikon for dialysis treat- toxic chemicals. Awashish told the ments, he was put on a different floor, His problem Nation. “We will file a complaint one where his doctor tried to assure will be fixed, he on behalf of our father about the him that no one doesn’t walk racism and death would disturb him. However, he anyways” threats he experienced.” remained fear- While her ful he would suf- father died the fer the same fate day before he as Echaquan, an was scheduled to Atikamekw from file a complaint the community of Manewan. Also an with police, he also knew he had Attikamekw, Awashish lived about not long to live, telling his daughter 350 km north in Obedjiwan. Awashish October 7 that doctors had found a told the online media La Converse bacteria in his heart. As he had just received treatment for his dialysis, it was judged too risky to do another operation right away.

“I found that his skin was not normal,” she recalled. “My brother told me that the doctor started to cry when they got into my father’s room. I couldn’t say goodbye to my father. And that’s what hurts me.”

As the families of both Awashish and Echaquan await autopsy results, the Council of the Atikamekw Nation has been meeting with federal and provincial governments to address systemic racism in the healthcare system. They have proposed “Joyce’s Principle” to formally recognize the right of Indigenous people to access health services free of discrimination.

“First Nations have been speaking out about humiliating situations for a very long time,” said Atikamekw Grand Chief Constant Awashish. “We had video proof with Joyce Echaquan. For Georges-Hervé, there is no written or video proof unfortunately. We hope for satisfactory answers, which will leave no room for doubt.”

With a growing reluctance among the region’s Indigenous community to seek health services, a new clinic called Mirerimowin opened October 27 at the Lanaudière Native Friendship Centre in Joliette.

The culturally safe space will initially operate two afternoons a month, serving Indigenous patients who do not have access to a doctor or guiding them to other services. Friendship Centre coordinator Jennifer Brazeau said the clinic needs more support from the regional health agency to adequately serve the community.

A year after the Viens Commission report, Brazeau is among many leaders demanding that Quebec recognize the existence of systemic racism against Indigenous people as the first step to creating real change. While Premier François Legault has acknowledged racism exists, he continues to deny that Quebec institutions have a problem with system racism.

“Until political leaders can put aside their pride and reach out to the other side instead of waiting for an invitation, until leaders have courage to show each other empathy without anticipation of gratitude, Quebec will be divided and fall short of its full potential,” stated Cree Grand Chief Abel Bosum. “Let the death of Joyce Echaquan be the shock that ends the culture of impunity and establishes accountability throughout the public services in their dealings with Indigenous persons.”