QNW: Systemic racism and discrimination: Major gathering near the National Assembly of Quebec

Kahnawake, November 30th, 2022 – Quebec Native Women (QNW) announces that a gathering will be held on December 3, 2022 at 3:00 pm, near the National Assembly. This event, open to all, has as its objective to denounce the existence of racism and systemic discrimination in Quebec against Indigenous Peoples, and more specifically against Indigenous women. On this occasion, QNW is now inviting the population to sign a petition that will be brought before the National Assembly next March.

The events surrounding the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan have clearly illustrated the urgent need to provide culturally safe services in all areas. Therefore, through this gathering, QNW wants to urge the Quebec government to recognize the existence of systemic racism and discrimination in Quebec and adopt Joyce’s Principle.

‘’TOGETHER, AGAINST SYSTEMIC RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION’’

The gathering is also a necessary reminder of the daily struggles that Indigenous women and girls face as a result of systemic racism and discrimination. Among these important issues, QNW reminds us that Every Child Matters and calls for Justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

“The Quebec government can no longer turn a blind eye to the concerns of Indigenous women and racial injustices. It is time for the government to recognize the existence of systemic racism and to implement Joyce’s Principle. The joint mobilization of Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous people is necessary in the fight against racism and discrimination. For this reason, the more numerous we are to make our voices heard at the National Assembly, the clearer the message will be to Prime Minister Legault,” said Marjolaine Étienne, president of Quebec Native Women.

Indigenous women are omnipresent in all spheres of society and are at the heart of the preservation and transmission of our peoples’ ancestral knowledge. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to help and protect them so that they can maintain the sacred flame that they carry within them.

We therefore invite the non-Indigenous and Indigenous population to show their solidarity with Indigenous women and to contribute to the fight for change by participating in large numbers to this gathering and by signing the online petition on the website of the Quebec National Assembly.

Link to online petition: https://faq-qnw.org/en/evenements/lets-sign-the-petition/

-30–

Source: Quebec Native Women \ https://faq-qnw.org/en

Contact for information and interview requests:
Doreen Petiquay Barthold
Communications Officer
(514) 757-1508 / communication@faq-qnw.org

Éric Duguay

Media Relation Associate
(514) 377-1980 / e.duguay@seize03.ca

NT5