b'HEALTH & JUSTICEFrancine Shimizu (second from right) after receiving her Indigenous Woman of the Year Award. With her, from left: Roseanna Hudson, winner of the Jeannette Corbiere-Lavell Award; Barry Green; Cora McGuire-Cyrette, ONWA Executive Director; Audrey Fisher, winner of the Dorothy Wynne Achievement AwardREVEALING THE TRUTH Constant Awashish with the Council In October 2021, Ghane Kamels reportof the Atikamekw Nation spoke to theHeather Winterstein (centre) with her mother Francine confirmed the role that racism played indisturbing condescension and racistShimizu (left) and brother Ronan (right) Echaquans death, concluding that whileremarks that Echaquan received during she died from pulmonary edema, theher hospital stay in a statement, insistingWhen Winterstein started experiencing racism and prejudice that Mrs. Echaquanthat it is everyones responsibility tosevere back pain on December 9, she faced was certainly a contributing factor todenounce them, especially in the contextwent to the hospital for treatment. She her death. of health services whose ethics shouldwas given Tylenol and sent home. When Kamels report, which is available online,protect us from the discomfort of racism.her father returned home from work, he details Echaquans treatment in thefound her in significant pain, and called hospital and confirms that though no realan ambulance to take her back to the use prior to this episode could be demon- A MOTHERS GRIEF hospital. The events that occurred after strated, Echaquan was presented as aOn December 10, 2021, Heatherthis point are outlined in the hospitals patient in withdrawal: a claim that wouldWinterstein of Six Nations passed away atreport: The hospital in triage put her in later be disproven by a hospital evaluation. the waiting area, Shimizu explained to St. Catharines General Hospital. FrancineAPTN. She was there [] until the time Kamel further concludes that In theShimizu, Wintersteins mother, believesthat she passed out and fell out of her case of Mrs. Echaquan, had it not beenthat her 24-year-old daughters Indigeneitywheelchair, and then she passed away at for the video footage, it is likely that thisplayed a significant part in her passing. 8:40 in the evening.event would never have come to public attention. When the system withdraws defensively into itself, that is the very defin-ition of systemic racism. Systemic racism is insidious.The coroners report makes it clearNishnawbe Aski Police that while Echaquan suffered from life- Service is now hiring!threatening medical issues, her death could have been avoided with proper care.Please visit joinnaps.ca for In a news conference in October 2021,more information on:Kamel was asked if she believed Echaquan Qualificationswould have survived her hospital stay if she Salary & Benefitswere white, to which she replied: Je pense Candidate Preparation Listque oui (I think so).Fortunately, Echaquans story would not go unheard: her experiences sparked widespread discussion and protest, as well as a commitment from the Quebec coroners office to conduct an inquiry intoContact Sgt. Cory Oleschuk, Uniform Recruitment for more information:her death. The hospital staff featured inContact Sgt. Cory Oleschuk, Uniform Recruitment for more information:Echaquans video were fired from their1-800-654-6277 ext. 6593Cory.Oleschuk.naps.capositions within a week. Grand Chief1-800-654-6277 ext. 6593Cory.Oleschuk.naps.caOntario Native Womens Association29'