Public hearings continue in June – The Commission to hold public hearings in Val-d’Or and in the Cree Nation of Mistissini

Press Release

VAL-D’OR, QC, May 29, 2018  – The Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Québec: listening, reconciliation and progress will hold public hearings at the Conservatory of music and drama of Val-d’Or, from June 4 to 8 and at Neoskweskau Complex in the Cree Nation of Mistissini, from June 11 to 20.

Calendar of hearings

Week 24, Conservatory of music and drama of Val-d’Or

Monday, June 4:

9:00-10:30 Janet Mark, Coordinator of Aboriginal relations, Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Québec
10:30-12:00 Pascal Côté, Commander and Yannick Parent-Samuel, Lieutenant Detective, Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)
1:00-4:00 Fannie Lafontaine, Professor, Faculty of Law, Université Laval and Canada Research Chair on International Criminal Justice and Human Rights

Tuesday, June 5:

9:00-4:00 Lyne St-Louis, Director, Taiga Vision

Wednesday, June 6:

The Commission will not hold hearings on that day.

Thursday, June 7:

9:00-10:30 Colleen Shepard, Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University
10:30-12:00 Céline Bellot, Professor, School of Social Work, Université de Montréal and Director of « Observatoire sur les profilages »
1:00-2:30 Éric Cardinal, Director, Aboriginal Affairs and Social Acceptability, NATIONAL Public relations
2:30-4:00 Dominic Rankin; Robert Seven Crows Bourdon and Roger Echaquan, Elders

Friday, June 8:

9:30-12:00 Jacques Turcot, Detective Sergeant, Service de police de la ville de Montréal
1:00-2:00 Daniel Robert and Pauline Diamond, Citizen witnesses (Police and Health Services)
2:00-4:00 Witness to be confirmed

Week 25, Neoskweskau Complex (gymnasium), Mistissini

Monday, June 11:

9:30-10:30 Opening Ceremony
10:30-12:30 Witness to be confirmed
1:30-4:30 Martin Papillon, Professor, Department of Political Science, Université de Montréal

Tuesday, June 12:

9:30-11:00 Witness to be confirmed
11:00-12:30 Citizen witness to be confirmed
1:30-2:30 Citizen witnesses, closed proceeding (Youth Protection Services)
2:30-3:30 Sara Weistche, Citizen witness (Police Services)
3:30-4:30 Elizabeth-Mina Bearskin, Citizen witness (Health Services)

Wednesday, June 13:

9:30-10:30 Clifford Loon, Citizen witness (Health and Police Services)
10:30-12:30 Citizen witness to be confirmed
1:30-2:00 William Mianscum, Citizen witness (Health Services)
2:00-3:00 Citizen witness, closed proceeding (Youth Protection Services)
3:00-3:45 Citizen witness, closed proceeding (Youth Protection Services)
3:45-4:30 Cheryl Salt, Citizen witness, reported testimony (Health Services)

Thursday, June 14:

9:30-10:30 Citizen witness, closed proceeding (Police Services)
10:30-11:30 Citizen witness, closed proceeding (Police Services)
11:30-12:30 Bertie Wapachee, Citizen witness (Police Services)
1:30-4:30 Jessika Boulanger, Midwifery Services, Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay; Laura Bearskin, Assistant Executive Director, Nishiiyuu Department, Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay and Doris Bobbish, Human Resources Officer, Social Services Chisasibi

Friday, June 15:

9:30-12:30 Citizen Witness to be confirmed
1:30-2:30 Kelly Weizineau, Citizen witness (Health Services)
2:30-4:30 Darlene Cheechoo, Chief, Cree Nation of Waskaganish

Week 26, Neoskweskau Complex (gymnasium), Mistissini

Monday, June 18:

9:30-11:30 Me Paul John Murdoch, Lawyer, Partner at Murdoch Archambault
11:30-13:00 James Bobbish, Former Chairman, Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay and Spokesperson for the Cree Nation Government
2:15-4:30 Mario Chachai, Coordinator, Social Justice Committee of Opitciwan

Tuesday, June 19:

9:30-12:30 Witness to be confirmed
1:30-4:30 Citizen witness to be confirmed

Wednesday, June 20:

9:30-3:00 Abel Bosum, Grand Chief and Bill Namagoose Executive Director, The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)
3:00-3:30 Commissioner’s speech
3:30-4:30 Closing ceremony

Following these blocks of hearings, the Commission will pause for the summer period. The hearings will resume on August 13 at the Conservatory of Music of Val-d’Or for a two-week period.

Please note that since the calendar of hearings is subject to frequent changes, we invite you to consult the hearings section of our website on a daily basis to get the latest version: www.cerp.gouv.qc.ca.

For further information: Catherine Bérubé-Leblanc, Communication Advisor, T. 1 844 580-0113, catherine.berube-leblanc@cerp.gouv.qc.ca, www.cerp.gouv.qc.ca