The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) and the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) have awarded the first Joyce Echaquan Scholarship to Lucie Dubé, originally from the Atikamekw community of Opitciwan and a student in the Customized Master's Program in Indigenous Studies at UQAT. With the $36,000 scholarship, Ms. Dubé is pursuing her research project under the direction of Professor Suzy Basile (UQAT) and the co-direction of Professor Carole Lévesque (INRS). She will be studying the implementation of the cultural safety approach in health and social services institutions, in accordance with the recommendations made by the Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services and the Joyce's Principle.
More specifically, the research project aims to analyze the concept of cultural safety in light of the principles and values of the Atikamekw Nehirowisiw Nation. Ms Dubé will conduct her research with the support of the network's research structures of the DIALOG network and the Research Laboratory on Indigenous Women's Issues - Mikwatisiw, as well as the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Women's Issues.
"I feel privileged to have received this scholarship. I want to honour Joyce Echaquan's memory by helping to fulfill the wish of her husband, Mr. Dubé, that all Indigenous people receive health care services with respect and dignity," said Lucie Dubé, a Master's student at UQAT.
A trained social worker, member of the Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec (OTSTCFQ), Lucie Dubé has worked in youth protection for the Atikamekw Nation Council as a member of the Atikamekw Authority Intervention System (AAIS) team for the past several years. With the completion of her study project, she wishes to contribute to ensuring that all Indigenous people have the right to equitable access, without discrimination, to all social and health care services, as well as the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, as set out in the Joyce Principle.
Scholarships in memory of Joyce Echaquan
Last January, Professors Suzy Basile and Carole Lévesque joined efforts and launched, with the support of Joyce Echaquan's family, a scholarship for an Indigenous Master's level student. The Office of the Chief Scientist of Québec and the Québec Research Funds have joined this initiative by offering a scholarship in the same amount and under the same terms. This second scholarship will be awarded to an Indigenous student, depending on applications, in the winter or fall semester of 2022.
To submit an application
Applications may be made by submitting a letter of intent (which may be presented orally if desired), a resume, a summary of the research project (including the conceptual and methodological framework), a work plan and timetable as well as two letters of recommendation and transcripts of completed university studies. The complete application should be sent by email to suzy.basile@uqat.ca before October 31, 2021.
For more information
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