b'HEALTH & JUSTICEShimizu, who was her daughters emer- Principle, which is a call to action and awas just kind of focusing on my grief. But gency contact, wasnt initially aware of her commitment from governments to endwhen I got the award, I realized its not return to St. Catharines General and wasan intolerable and unacceptable situa- about me; its about everybody else. only called in by the hospital at 8:30 p.m.tion. Inspired by the United Nations She arrived to find medical staff workingDeclaration on the Rights of IndigenousIm happy to have that responsibility, to resuscitate Wintersteinshortly afterPeoples (2007), Article 24, JoycesShimizu continues, because I am so Shimizu arrived, the young woman wasPrinciple reads: convinced that I am right in this, and that declared dead.gives me energy, but sometimes I get very 1. Indigenous peoples have the rightdiscouraged and its tough. Im trying Winterstein experienced struggles withto their traditional medicines and toto prevent lives from being lost. Its the her mental health and had been fightingmaintain their health practices, includingworst thing that happened to me, and I an addiction to heroin for several years.the conservation of their vital medicinaldont want any other parents to have to We were really working on it, explainsplants, animals and minerals. Indigenousgo through it.Shimizu, and she was well on her way.individuals also have the right to access, According to Shimizu, her daughter waswithout any discrimination, to all social prepared to go to a treatment centreand health services.MORE STORIESthe following month in pursuit of well- Many would like to believe that experi-ness and aspired to return to school to2. Indigenous individuals have an equalences like these are singularly tragic and study nursing. right to the enjoyment of the highestpainful stories. The truth, however, is that attainable standard of physical andJoyce Echaquan and Heather Winterstein Winterstein also struggled with housing,mental health. States shall take theare only two of the many Indigenous and her continued battle with her addic- necessary steps with a view to achievingpatients whose preventable deaths have tion left her with track marks on herprogressively the full realization ofoccurred at hospitals across the country. arms. Shimizu is concerned that thosethis right.These experiences continue to remind components of her daughters life experi- The Joyces Principle brief includes aIndigenous peoples that healthcare, for ence, alongside her Indigeneity, factoredstatement by Echaquans husband, Carolthem, is not a guarantee.into a lack of adequate attention from theDub, who asks that his wifes voice be hospital staff. According to a release bythe beginning of real change for allThere are women like Juliette Tapaquon, NiagaraNow in early 2023, Shimizu hasIndigenous people so no one ever againwho was denied culturally appropriate had to visit the emergency departmentfalls victim to systemic racism. care and subjected to racial profiling at herself several times since Wintersteinsthe Pasqua Hospital in Regina, where she passing due to gastroparesis, a complica- In the time since Heather Wintersteinslater died of cervical cancer after what tion from her diabetes. She believes thatpassing, Francine Shimizu has workedher family says were repeatedly ignored her file has been flagged, based on howdiligently in pursuit of justice andcalls for help. There are also mothers like often it has been lost during those visits. answers. Ive had to chase, Ive hadPearl Gambler, who was left to give birth to threaten, Ive had to do whateveralone at the Misericordia Community ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE it took to get answers, she says. LikeHospital in Edmonton, Alberta, and In November 2020, the Council of thethe Council, Shimizus efforts centreexperienced a complete lack of care or Atikamekw of Manawan presented Joyceson reshaping legal infrastructure: thistreatment that led to the tragic loss of time, through the implementation ofher newborn child. Heathers Law, which would also ensure that Indigenous peoples and otherThese and many more stories can easily marginalized individuals receive equalbe found online and throughout the access to healthcare across the country.pages of Share Your Story, an exhaustive Shimizu says that its still in the planningaccount of racism within Canadas stages, but that there are MPPs who arehealthcare system put together by waiting for this to come to surface so thatthe Wabano Centre for Aboriginal they can support it. Im hoping to haveHealth in partnership with the Ottawa something out to the federal governmentAboriginal Coalition. within a year. She is also working on a website related to the cause. These are stories that need to be heard, Shimizus tireless advocacy was recog- read, and recognized by all Canadians. nized by the Ontario Native WomensThey speak to the enduring need to Association (ONWA) at their 52ndrecognize and address the ways that the Annual General Assembly in Septembercolonial approach to wellness allows for 2023, where she was presented theviolent and pervasive systemic racism Indigenous Woman of the Year Award.to ravage Indigenous populations. While the stories of Joyce Echaquan I was surprised, for one thing, Shimizuand Heather Winterstein are crucial says of the recognition. Up until then,reminders of the strength and import-all the support that I got was mostly fromance of Indigenous womens knowledge my sister and her friends. It just furtheredand practices, Indigenous women my belief that this is the right thing to do.continue to face disproportionate I have to work harder, because before Imarginalization across many sectors. 30Fall/Winter 2023'