Two Indigenous women from Nord-du-Québec were allegedly murdered by their partners in the spring, and their deaths completely went under the radar, a group of homes for victims of domestic violence deplored on Friday.
“It’s really worrying that we haven’t heard about it,” said Annick Brazeau, president of the Group of Homes for Women Victims of Domestic Violence.
Especially since these are feminicides affecting indigenous women, who are too often invisible, she continued.
Stephanie Kitchen lived in Wemindji, a Cree reserved land, located in Eeyou Istchee, in the Nord-du-Québec region. The 33-year-old woman was allegedly killed on March 24 by her partner, who has since been charged with murder. The Eeyou Eenou police force responded to his residence, where assistance was requested, and officers found Mme Kitchen seriously injured. He was pronounced dead at the local clinic. Alexander Weistche, 33, was also charged with uttering threats and assault with a weapon against two other people.
Raingi Tukai, a 38-year-old woman living in Inukjuak, Nunavik, was reported missing at the beginning of May and later found dead. Nunavik police confirmed that a 34-year-old suspect had been arrested and that he was in a marital relationship with the deceased. Police list April 11 as the date of his death.
The Association of Homes for Women Victims of Domestic Violence had not heard of these two cases until recently: it was their colleagues from SOS Domestic Violence who alerted the population.
According to the Canadian Femicide Observatory, which cites various studies, Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be killed by their spouse, reported Mme Brazeau. Except that these cases often go “under the radar”, she lamented: “It’s important to talk about it, to raise awareness. »
Criminal proceedings are underway against the two suspects.