Joyce Echaquan's death sparked change. But 5 years later, change is still just beginning

Joyce Echaquan died because she was Indigenous.

Those were her grieving husband's words from a statement he delivered to a crowd of journalists on Oct. 5, 2021, reacting to the release of a coroner's report into Echaquan's death.

Carol Dubé spoke calmly but his pain was unmistakable as he described "a system that still allows people filled with prejudice to commit horrors."

Earlier that day, coroner Géhane Kamel, who fought back tears as she detailed her investigation's findings, said she believed Echaquan would have still been alive if she was white.

Joyce Echaquan's husband Carol Dubé wiped away tears after giving an emotional speech about his wife on Sept. 28, 2021, at a ceremony to commemorate the one-year anniversary of her death. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada)

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