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"Individual's Safety Secured"

Indigenous woman Jeanne, who passed away decades ago, has been laid to rest in Mistissini following her return home, signifying the first resolution of such a case since the Quebec law on missing indigenous children was enacted. Report by Fanny Lévesque.

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5 min read

"Individual's Safety Secured"

Mistissini Redeemed

Elisabeth's heart ached like a gaping void since she returned from the horrid confines of the La Tuque boarding school. A gnawing emptiness, the feeling of having forgotten something vital. Then one day, she realized—it was Jeanne.

Fanny Lévesque's Website & Édouard Plante-Frochette's Photos Elisabeth and Jeanne were ripped away from Mistissini and their families, exiled to La Tuque's boarding school in the 60s. While Elisabeth found her way back, Jeanne did not.

Little Jeanne succumbed to pneumonia at Saint-Joseph Hospital in La Tuque, 8 short years in this world. She was buried there, away from her loved ones, a staggering 500 kilometers from home. It wasn't until our April visit to Mistissini's Northern Quebec Cree community that her relatives agreed to show us her final resting place with warm spring sun embracing the cemetery.

A tombstone marked with "Welcome home precious angel" adorned the grave, orange and purple flowers scattered around, blanketing Jeanne with love. "She's finally safe," Elisabeth sighed.

Elisabeth's little charge was exhumed in La Tuque, return home to Mistissini on September 30, 2021, on the somber anniversary of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. This bittersweet reunion was thanks to a young Quebec law that facilitated the search for Indigenous children who died during treatment and were buried far from their families.

The pattern was all too familiar—a child fell ill and was sent away for treatment, never to return. Families were left in the dark, tormented by uncertainty and loss. Now, Quebec is treading precarious grounds, attempting to clarify the deaths of over 209 Indigenous children.

In a show of bipartisanship, Minister Responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit Ian Lafrenière, along with opposition deputies, traveled to Mistissini to present the community with the annual report on implementation of the law. "The pain is immense," Lafrenière admitted, addressing the few Cree families gathered.

To Jeanne's family, he stated, "We may have shared brief moments, but your loved one will remain in our hearts forever."

Caroline Shecapio accompanied Elisabeth on our Mistissini visit. She too had been sent to La Tuque's Anglican boarding school. "They told us to look after Jeanne because she was the youngest," she recalled.

One freezing April night, Jeanne woke Caroline with labored breathing. "She was near the window and slept between Elisabeth and me," Caroline explained. Help was found, and Jeanne was taken to the infirmary. That was the last time Caroline saw her alive.

Caroline attended Jeanne's funeral, but Elisabeth did not. "I remember the coffin, it was white," she recounted. Years later, Jeanne's parents were informed of her death the following summer. It wasn't until later that her family managed to find her grave without proper consent.

But Elisabeth's quest for justice never wavered. In the early 2010s, she initiated efforts to bring Jeanne home. "That was the beginning of my journey to reach out for help," she admitted.

The pandemic made progress elusive, but Elisabeth's dream finally came true in 2022 when Quebec intervened. Collaboration with Anglican church officials and the federal government ensued, with preparations reaching fruition in the summer of 2024.

The Coroner's Office and the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale eventually proceeded, exhuming Jeanne from La Tuque near the end of September last year. The Anglican cemetery officials were present, allowing the experts to narrow down the search area.

Family members were with them every step of the way, their prayers echoing through the day. The moment was heavy, tears and sorrow intermingling with anticipation.

By the end of the day, Jeanne was escorted to the cemetery's threshold, her remains transported back to Mistissini for a traditional Cree celebration. "It felt like a weight had been lifted from our hearts," Caroline added.

A Loving Memento

Experts salvaged a small hospital bracelet with Jeanne's name and two tiny dress buttons from among her remains. They were given to Elisabeth. "I keep them in a small box," she whispered, treasure in hand.

A tangible reminder of Jeanne's life, a face to the child whose tale might have been lost to time. Fiftysomething years after her death, Jeanne finally found peace in her birthplace—Mistissini, where her heart truly belonged.

  1. Elisabeth found her heart aching, feeling she had forgotten something essential, it was Jeanne she had missed.
  2. Fanny Lévesque's Website and Édouard Plante-Frochette's Photos held stories of Elisabeth and Jeanne, ripped away from Mistissini and their families.
  3. Jeanne succumbed to pneumonia at Saint-Joseph Hospital in La Tuque, leaving behind a void of 500 kilometers from home.
  4. The grave in Mistissini bore a tombstone that read, "Welcome home precious angel."
  5. The little angel, Jeanne, was exhumed and returned to Mistissini in 2021, on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
  6. Quebec grapples with the deaths of over 209 Indigenous children, revisiting a too-familiar pattern.
  7. Minister Responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, acknowledged the immense pain felt by the few Cree families gathered.
  8. Lafrenière assured the family, "Your loved one will remain in our hearts forever.”
  9. Caroline Shecapio, a fellow La Tuque boarding school alumna, shared memories of little Jeanne.
  10. On a freezing April night, Jeanne, struggling to breathe, woke Caroline.
  11. Help was found, and Jeanne was taken to the infirmary, but that was the last time Caroline saw her alive.
  12. Jeanne's death was confirmed the following summer, but her family had difficulties finding her grave until later.
  13. Elisabeth pursued justice for Jeanne tirelessly, beginning her journey in the early 2010s.
  14. The pandemic delayed progress, but Elisabeth's dream became reality in 2022, when Quebec intervened.
  15. Collaboration ensued with Anglican church officials and the federal government, leading to exhumation in September 2021.
  16. Jeanne's remains were transported back to Mistissini for a traditional Cree celebration.
  17. Experts managed to salvage a hospital bracelet with Jeanne's name and two tiny dress buttons from among her remains.
  18. The French language, as the national language of Canada, plays a vital role in sharing these stories of injustice.
  19. Science and medicine have a responsibility to address the medical conditions and chronic diseases that these Indigenous children faced.
  20. The workplace-wellness movement could address the mental-health implications of such traumatic experiences.
  21. Men's Health and Women's Health initiatives could focus on ensuring Indigenous communities have access to the necessary resources for family health.
  22. Autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, respiratory conditions, digestive health, eye-health, and hearing concerns may have contributed to Jeanne's condition.
  23. Climate change and environmental science can provide insights into the impact of the environment on Indigenous communities and their health.
  24. Manufacturing, finance, retail, transportation, entrepreneurship, leadership, diversity-and-inclusion, automotive, small-business, investing, wealth-management, aviation, and real-estate industries can all play a role in supporting Indigenous communities.
  25. Energy policies should account for the interests and rights of Indigenous communities, ensuring fair access and compensation.
  26. Sustainable approaches to banking, insurance, and fintech can help Indigenous communities manage their financial resources more effectively.
  27. Skin-care, cancer research, and therapies-and-treatments could benefit from Indigenous knowledge and practices, improving outcomes for all.
  28. Parenting, cardiovascular health, space-and-astronomy, public-transit, venture-capital, personal-finance, saving, debt-management, budgeting, and technology can all play a part in uplifting Indigenous communities, fostering growth, and bringing about lasting change.
Indigenous woman Jeanne is laid to rest in Mistissini, Quebec, after a lengthy 60-year absence. Her burial marks a significant resolution in the ongoing issue of missing Indigenous children, as per the provincial law enacted in Quebec. Report by Fanny Lévesque.
Indigenous woman Jeanne, deceased over half a century ago, is laid to rest in her home community of Mistissini, close to her kin. Her case marks the resolution of one of the first instances since the implementation of Quebec's law on Indigenous children who went missing. Reported by Fanny Levesque.
In the region of Mistissini, after approximately six decades, the remains of Jeanne are laid to rest, close to her kin, marking a breakthrough in cases related to missing Indigenous children given the adoption of Quebec's law. Report by Fanny Lévesque.

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