Two communities extend a hand on August 1st, united by respect and a shared experience of discrimination.
REPENTIGNY, July 31, 2026 – Under the banner of respect and reconciliation, a delegation of 80 people from the community organization LAKAY, based in Repentigny, will visit the Atikamekw community of Manawan, on Nitaskinan, the ancestral territory of the Atikamekw Nehirowisiw Nation, tomorrow, August 1st. A day of exchanges will be dedicated to solidarity between peoples.
This visit will bring together two communities that, each in their own way, carry a history marked by racism and discrimination. Black communities and First Nations still face prejudice, inequality, and discrimination on a daily basis. profiling – in employment, in public services, and in public spaces. It is partly from this shared experience that the desire to reach out to one another arises. «We come with an outstretched hand, to learn as much as to share. What unites us is stronger than what divides us,» affirms Pierre Richard Thomas, CEO of LAKAY.
The day will begin with a conference on Haiti's pre-Columbian history, followed by a convivial dinner featuring Haitian flavors—griot, pikliz, and rice—and the warmth of Atikamekw hospitality. In the afternoon, a drumming workshop will captivate young and old alike with the rhythm of the drums, symbols of cultures passed down and celebrated.
A highlight of this meeting: LAKAY will propose to the Atikamekw Council of Manawan the signing of a memorandum of understanding for friendship and collaboration. Based on mutual respect, reciprocity, and consent, this document aims to lay the foundations for a lasting relationship: cultural exchanges, youth twinning, mentoring activities, and joint advocacy against racism.
«This initiative goes beyond a single day. We want to start a journey that our two communities can travel together over the long term,» Mr. Thomas emphasizes.
For LAKAY, which has been working for years to promote the inclusion of immigrant and racialized communities in Lanaudière, this rapprochement is part of a broader vision: that of a region where people recognize, respect and support each other in the face of injustice.
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