Last week, the world watched in horror as headlines detailing Joyce Echaquan’s final moments started pouring out of Canada. The 37-year-old Atikamekw mother of seven pulled out her phone and started livestreaming on Facebook as she cried out for help from her hospital bed and two nurses made racist comments about her. Echaquan died shortly after.
“Indigenous people across the country have been decrying their treatment in public institutions that are supposed to be there to help you in a time of need. It shouldn’t take a livestreaming on Facebook for someone to be believed,” Jennifer Brazeau, executive director of the Native Friendship Centre of Lanaudiere in Joliette, told VICE News previously.
