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September 28: Anniversary of Joyce Echaquan's death • September 30: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Repentigny, September 28, 2026 — On this sixth anniversary of Joyce Echaquan’s death and as we approach National Truth and Reconciliation Day, LAKAY bows before the memory of this Atikamekw mother from Manawan and joins its voice to those of the First Nations to demand, once again, that the systemic racism of which Indigenous peoples are victims in Quebec cease.

On September 28, 2020, Joyce Echaquan, 37, a mother of seven, died at the Joliette Hospital, right here in Lanaudière, after live-streaming the racist insults hurled at her by the staff caring for her. In her 2021 report, coroner Géhane Kamel concluded that the racism and prejudice experienced by Ms. Echaquan contributed to her death. Joyce was not the victim of a simple individual lapse in judgment; she was a victim of a system that, for far too long, has treated Indigenous people as second-class citizens.

«Joyce had the courage to show the world what so many others experience in silence. Six years later, refusing to name systemic racism is refusing to fight it. We say it clearly: systemic racism exists, it hurts and it kills,» says Pierre Richard Thomas, director of LAKAY.

Joyce's Principle: A Duty to Act

Developed by the Atikamekw Council of Manawan and the Atikamekw Nation Council, Joyce's Principle aims to guarantee all Indigenous people equitable and non-discriminatory access to social and health services. Several professional orders and institutions have adopted it, but the Quebec government has still not endorsed it, notably because one of its foundations is the recognition of systemic racism. With the general election just days away on October 5, LAKAY is asking:

  • to the Quebec government and all political parties to recognize the existence of systemic racism and to commit to adopting and applying the Joyce Principle; ;
  • to the health and social services network, particularly in Lanaudière, to offer mandatory training in cultural safety designed with First Nations; ;
  • to governments to fully implement the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the recommendations of the Viens Commission.
  • to all political parties to commit to conducting a public inquiry into racial profiling within certain police services in Quebec, including Montreal and Repentigny.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th, National Truth and Reconciliation Day honours missing and deceased children and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. For LAKAY, reconciliation cannot be limited to commemorations: it requires truth about the injustices of yesterday and today, and concrete actions.

It is in this spirit that LAKAY accompanied, on the 1ster Last August, a delegation of approximately 150 members of the Black community visited Manawan for a day of cultural exchange with the Atikamekw Nation. This meeting confirmed what our communities already know: Black communities and First Nations share the experience of profiling, discrimination, and barriers to accessing services. Our struggles are intertwined, and so is our solidarity.

LAKAY invites the residents of Repentigny and Lanaudière to wear orange shirts on September 30, to participate in the commemorative activities organized by First Nations, and to learn about Joyce's Principle. Our thoughts are with Joyce Echaquan's family, her children, and the entire community of Manawan.

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Also read: A successful solidarity visit between the Black community and the Atikamekw Nation of Manawan.

About LAKAY

LAKAY (Chez Nous Média 2007) is a non-profit organization in Repentigny that defends and promotes the rights and interests of members of cultural communities, particularly in the Lanaudière region, by raising their awareness of issues related to access to services, safety, socioeconomic conditions, and representation. The organization fosters inclusion, tolerance, and intercultural understanding through inclusive activities and programs.