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HISTORY
At the end of January 2018, the idea of an association of families of missing children was born. Fifteen Atikamekw families hold a forum in Wemotaci and commit to consulting other families of abducted, missing or deceased children. In 2020, three Atikamekw women and one Anishnabe woman formulate an official request for incorporation with the help of Me Alain Arsenault. The proposed name of the association was Awacak, meaning “little beings of light”. On December 9, 2020, Bill 79, An Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of missing or deceased indigenous children, is tabled in the National Assembly. On February 8, 2021, the Minister of Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, informs the association that Awacak will be its main interlocutor, since families will be at the heart of its concerns. In March 2021, the association is officially recognized as a non-profit organization. The four applicants become provisional administrators. Summer 2021, a commemoration is held at Lac Decelles, on Atikamekw territory. 150 people attend: Atikamekw, Innu from the lower North Shore and a few Anishnabe and Eeyou Cree families. Families bring a meaningful object to remember their missing children. With the help of Me Arsenault, the provisional administrators define the by-laws for the smooth running of the association, the criteria for membership, and select the staff needed to begin the work. |
Rapport 21-22_Loi 79
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