'I want people to feel inspired': Cree woman shares story at inquiry into treatment of Indigenous people

AWhapmagoostuiwoman from the James Bay region of Quebec is hoping her story encourages people to stand "strong together" and engage with a provincial inquiry into the treatment of Indigenous peoples.

NatasiaMukashsays in May 2016, she was discriminated against by hospital staff in Vald'Or, a community about 530 kilometres north of Montreal and a hub for many Cree in small communities after beingmedevacedthere while having a miscarriage.

"I want people to feel inspired by saying, 'Yes, I can do this,I can speak up and I can make a change," saidMukash,

Last week,Mukashshared her story with the commission of the provincialinquiry, which is gearing up for its first set of hearings this June.

The inquiry's mandate leans on three words: "coute,rconciliationetprogrs", translated in English to "listen, reconciliation and progress."

"It's not just me who is going to make a change;it has to be a collective, it has to be a lot of people," Mukashsaid.

'We need people to participate'

The two-year inquiry in Quebec was launched in December 2016 with a focus on how Indigenous communities across the province are treated by various public services, including the police, justice and correctional services, youth protection as well asthe health care system.

It was launched after months of public pressure in the aftermath of a Radio-Canada investigation by the french-language programEnqute, where several Indigenous women in Vald'Orcame forward alleging provincial police officers abused them.

• Indigenous police accused of dragging feet on child sexual abuse complaint in Quebec community

• 'Betrayed, humiliated' Val-d'Or women speak out after no charges against police accused of abuse

ChristianLeblanc, the prosecutor in chief of the commission, says their door is "full-open" to people likeMukash, who feel they have not been treated well by these public services. The commission is limiting its work to the last 15 years.

"Our recommendations are going to be good only if people talk to us," saidLeblanc. "I strongly believe there is historical context right now that is open to real change and we could do our part.

"For that we need people to participate. It's not going to work unless regular citizens, native citizens of Quebec, contact us and tell us their story."

'I was in pain. I was alone'

Mukash initiallyfiled a complaint with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services and with the Vald'Orhospital back in 2016.

She says that's when she overheard nurses at the hospital saying she would not be seeing a doctor and would have to go to a hotel, despite being in extreme pain after 10 days of bleeding due to a miscarriage.

• Cree woman files complaint of racism after treatment at Val d'Or hospital

Mukash says the nurses were treating her differently than the other non-Indigenous patients at the hospital, until they learned she was fluent in French.

"I was sure that nurse was going to call security to drag me out of there because I was hysterical," saidMukash. "I was in pain. I was alone. Nobody should have to go through that ever, ever again."

Mukashsays it was difficult to share the details of what happened to her publicly, but she'sdetermined to see some good come from her experience.

Locals to collect stories in communities

The commission has hired a coordinator forIndigenouscommunities, Janet Mark, who's Cree and fromSenneterre, Que.,as well as acoordinatorof Aboriginal Programs at theUniversitduQubecenAbitibi-Tmiscamingue(UQAT).

It's also planning tohire local people to travel to the communities to collect stories in Indigenous languages.

The registration deadline for groups to become"full participants" during the inquiry is Apr.27.

Being a full participant means groups such as the Cree Nation government, Cree Board of Health and Social Services or police force to name a few will have the right to be represented by a lawyer, to cross examine witnesses and to receive a copy of the final recommendations,amongother benefits.

So far, only Quebec Native Women Inc.has registered.