Legault Is Going To Give An 'Official Apology' To Joyce Echaquan's Family

Quebec Premier François Legault will deliver an "official apology" to the family of Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman whose tragic death has sparked outrage across the province. 

The racist circumstances surrounding Echaquan's death are a troubling indicator that racism against Indigenous communities is still very present in Quebec and its institutions. 

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I will present, on behalf of the government, an official apology to the family of Ms. Joyce Echaquan.

Quebec Premier François Legault

Legault will deliver his apology at the Salon Bleu on Tuesday, October 6, according to a Twitter post.

Over the weekend, a protest to honour Echaquan and to condemn all racist acts against First Nations people took place in Montreal.

In a Facebook post, the premier acknowledged that racism against First Nations people exists in Quebec but stopped short of saying that it's a systemic issue, despite pressure to do so.

"The reality is that there is still racism against Indigenous people in our province," he said. "We can't accept that."

To combat racism in Quebec, the government has planned a public "awareness campaign" and more training for public servants.