Missing and deceased Indigenous children: Support for families

Since September 1, 2021, Indigenous families have had access to support in the search for information about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance or death of their child after being admitted to a health and social services institution.

They may request support by phone or email from the Direction de soutien aux familles at the Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones. The support team will take into account the linguistic and cultural characteristics of the families involved, as well as their psychological and spiritual needs in order to assist them adequately in this process.

This assistance is provided for in An Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution (the Act) , which came into force on September 1, 2021.

To apply, contact the Direction de soutien aux familles as follows:

• By email at soutienauxfamilles@mce.gouv.qc.ca
• By telephone at 581-993-1548

The mission of the Direction de soutien aux familles is to work with the Minister to assist Indigenous families in their search for information from a health and social services institution, body or religious congregation about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance or death of their child following an admission to an institution

To do this, the team provides support services in a spirit of cooperation with families. The team will take into account the linguistic and cultural characteristics of the families involved, as well as their psychological and spiritual needs.

The development of culturally relevant and safe services is a priority.

Services offered:

• Information regarding support services and the Act
• Assistance in the search for information
• Culturally and linguistically appropriate support for families at all stages of the process
• Possibility of psychological and spiritual support for families, adapted to their needs
• Referral to appropriate support and healing services

In carrying out its mandate, the team collaborates with various experts and Indigenous partners, as well as with a special advisor for family support.

Anne Panasuk, who as a journalist was the first to report the stories of Innu families from Pakuashipi, as well as Atikamekw families, whose children died or disappeared after being hospitalized, was appointed as a special advisor for family support on June 8, 2023.

From June 2021 to June 2023, her work as a special advisor involved providing guidance and support for the Minister Responsible for Relations with the First Nation and the Inuit in connection with the application of the law, in particular by ensuring the best possible relationship and communications between Indigenous families and the Québec government.

Since June 2023, when her mandate as a special advisor ended, Anne Panasuk has continued to work with families at the Awacak Association – Little Beings of Light, one of the main partners of the Direction de soutien aux familles.

The Ministre responsable des Relations avec les Premières Nations et les Inuit introduced Bill 79: An Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution  to the National Assembly in December 2020. Following the completion of legislative work, which included specific consultations with various Indigenous organizations and families, the Act was passed and assented to in June 2021.

The Act is a response to the 20^th call for justice and the spirit of the 21^st call for justice in Supplementary Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – Kepek-Quebec .

The main purpose of the Act is to support Indigenous families in their search for information from an institution, body or religious congregation about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and death of children following their admission to one of these places before December 31, 1992.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls focused on cases of missing and dead Indigenous children in circumstances unknown to their families, following their admission to a health and social services institution between the 1950s and 1980s.

At the end of its work, the Inquiry released its final report. The Québec‑specific supplementary report was accompanied by 21 calls for justice, one of which was to “provide Indigenous families with all the information (the government) has about children who have been apprehended following admission to a hospital or any other health center in Quebec” (Call for Justice No. 20).

In the Québec-specific supplementary report, entitled Reclaiming Power and Place – Volume 2 – A Supplementary Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – Kepek-Quebec (2019) , the Inquiry devotes a section to family testimonies and analyses (pages 107–110).

Families that are dissatisfied with the services they receive may file a complaint using the existing mechanisms offered by health institutions, bodies and religious congregations, and also the mechanism specified in the Act.

The person responsible for the mechanism specified in the Act may provide support if a family requests it when filing a complaint, and during the processing of the complaint.

After analyzing the complaint, the complaints coordinator will contact the institution, body or religious congregation concerned to suggest ways to improve its approach, in particular by raising awareness.

How to file a complaint

To file a complaint under the Act, or for more information on complaints, please contact the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Premières Nations et les Inuit