Thousands of people have marched in Montreal to denounce what they said was systemic racism, after an Indigenous woman filmed herself being verbally abused by nurses before dying in hospital.
Shouting "Justice for Joyce!" and "Racism is a virus," the protesters demonstrated peacefully on Saturday (local time) against a backdrop of drums and traditional song.
Joyce Echaquan, a mother of seven from Atikamekw of Manawan, a First Nation community in Quebec, died at Joliette Hospital north of Montreal last week after seeking treatment for stomach pains.
In a video lasting several minutes, which she filmed from her hospital bed and posted live to Facebook, Ms Echaquan is heard calling for help and screaming in pain, as two hospital staff insult her.
In the video shared by media outlets and reviewed by Reuters, nurses can be heard in French calling Ms Echaquan "stupid as hell," and suggesting she was only good for sex.
Ms Echaquan died shortly after the video was recorded. Her family says she had a heart problem.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Ms Echaquan's partner Carol Dube said her death is the result of systemic racism in the Canadian province.
Two people hold placards during the demonstration in central Montreal. Source: Getty Images
"I don't want her death to be in vain. How many lives will we need to lose before we can recognise that systemic racism exists against us as Indigenous peoples," Mr Dube said.
“I am convinced that my partner died because systemic racism contaminated Joliette hospital and killed my partner.”
Speakers on Saturday made repeated calls for Quebec Premier Francois Legault's centrist government to shed light on the event and acknowledge the existence of systemic racism in the French-speaking province.
On Saturday afternoon, Quebec Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault announced that a public inquiry would be conducted.
Protesters gather during a demonstration in central Montreal to demand action for the death of Joyce Echaquan on 3 October. Source: AFP
Ms Echaquan's family said on Friday it intended to sue the hospital and staff members involved in the incident. Their lawyers also requested a police investigation.
Two other investigations are already underway into the cause of death and possible negligence.
The incident comes amid ongoing concerns over treatment of Indigenous people in Canada, who make up about five per cent of Canada's nearly 37 million population. A 2019 Quebec government report found systemic discrimination against Indigenous people accessing public services.
In June, a video showing a forceful arrest of a Canadian Indigenous leader by Royal Canadian Mounted Police over an incident involving an expired license plate was criticised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller last week said Ms Echaquan's death was "not an isolated event".
