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Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief calling for northern BC task force to improve Indigenous health care

Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief Mina Holmes penned a letter to Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Affairs, Carolyn Bennett to create a task force in northern BC to improve healthcare for Indigenous people.

The letter references the death of 37-year-old Joyce Echaquan (E-check-wan) who live-streamed audio on her phone to Facebook as two Quebec healthcare workers taunted her in the final moments of life.

Holmes told MyPGNow.com an incident like this has become an all-too-familiar scenario for Indigenous people.

“What is so heartbreaking about that incident is many Indigenous people experience racism in the healthcare profession, we know it exists, and it’s time to really address this in a way that will produce results.”

“Indigenous people need to access health care services without feeling afraid of being treated differently or inadequately – it’s time to address this now and not wait. We know it is there, we know it exists, and it’s horrific for those who experience systemic racism, people who are sick and unwell and it’s horrifying this continues today.”

Holmes believes once a task force or working group is formed many burning questions can finally be asked.

“People need to feel like they can go somewhere and feel that someone is going to listen to them and work for them. Something that has to happen out of this is we need to know what has allowed this to continue and how do we resolve it?”

“It was only about two generations ago, my mother and my grandmother’s generation who went to Lejack Residential School and those generations had forced sterilizations, they endured dentists coming in to practice on them. Today, we see people who are because of the colour of their skin, feel like other people are served better than they are whether it’s the emergency room or doctor’s offices.”

In June, the Ministry of Health launched an investigation into allegations of emergency room doctors and nurses playing a guessing game of the blood alcohol level of Indigenous patients and possibly others in BC.

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Brendan Pawliw
Brendan Pawliw
Since moving to Prince George in 2015, Brendan has covered local sports including the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, Prince George Spruce Kings, UNBC Timberwolves, Cariboo Cougars AAA, and Northern Capitals U18 female hockey teams. Career highlights include play-by-play during the Spruce Kings' BCHL championship runs in 2018 and 2019, including the Doyle Cup win. He also covered the 2019 National Junior A Championship, the 2017 Telus Cup, the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship, and the 2022 BC Summer Games. Brendan is the news voice on 94.3 The Goat and Country 97 FM, reporting on crime, real estate, labour, and environmental issues. Outside of work, he officiates box lacrosse and fastball, sits on the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame board, and co-hosts the Hockey North podcast.

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