The fact that the CAQ government is removing the notion of intersectionality from its vision of feminism is “disturbing,” says Marjolaine Étienne, president of Quebec Native Women.
“If we don’t recognize this approach, if we don’t work on the source of the problem, aren’t we just putting bandages on top of bandages? Are we going to cure the bottom of the thing? “raised Ms. Étienne, in an interview with The duty.
Intersectionality aims to recognize that the different forms of discrimination — based in particular on gender, age, socio-economic condition, ethnic origin, presence of a disability, sexual orientation — can intersect and add up.
In February, the office of the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Martine Biron, said that this was not her vision of feminism. “My feminist position is a unifying feminism, a feminism that is in action and that’s what our government wants to do,” added Ms. Biron last Wednesday at the Blue Room.
Non-Aboriginal women experience different realities from Aboriginal women, underlines Marjolaine Étienne, however. “The difference is based on the environments in which we live and it is also based on the issues that First Nations women experience on a daily basis. »
On Thursday, Québec solidaire co-spokesperson, Manon Massé, tabled a petition in the National Assembly on the recognition of racism and systemic discrimination against Indigenous women and girls.
Recognizing this issue is the basis, says the president of Quebec Native Women. “Yes, there are concrete actions being taken […], but by not working on recognition, will, in 5 years, 10 years or tomorrow morning, we will have to undergo other dramas like that of Joyce Echaquan? »
This Attikamekw mother died under racist insults from nursing staff at the Joliette hospital in 2020. The petition also calls for the adoption of Joyce’s principle, which aims “to guarantee all Aboriginal people a right of equitable access , without any discrimination, to all social and health services”.
Ms. Massé will hold a press briefing this Thursday at the National Assembly in the company of Ms. Étienne. Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, and Sipi Flamand, Chief of the Attikamekw Council of Manawan, will also be present.
Further details will follow.