Awacak represents, accompanies and supports families whose child or children have gone missing or died following admission to a health and social services institution, in their search for the truth.
 
This work is done in collaboration with the Direction de soutien aux familles, set up within the Secrétariat aux Relations avec les Premières Nations et les Inuit. Together, we apply Bill 79, an Act to authorize the disclosure of personal information to families of missing or deceased indigenous children following admission to an institution.
 
The law establishes that a health and social services establishment, an organization or a religious congregation must, at the request of a family member and subject to certain conditions, disclose personal information that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding the disappearance or death of the indigenous child.
​(Explanatory notes to the Act)
TO FAMILIES
Awacak se rend dans les communautés qui le désirent pour donner de l’information concernant la loi 79 ;
  • Awacak travels to communities to provide information about Bill 79;
  • Awacak meets with families who wish to find a missing or deceased child and fills out the search request form with them;
  • families can sign a power of attorney with Awacak so that the association can take steps on their behalf with various institutions, in collaboration with the Direction de soutien aux familles ;
  • Awacak accompanies families to the burial site of the missing child;
  • Awacak can represent and accompany families requesting exhumation. 
  • Awacak has the full confidence of the Arsenault, Dufresne and Wee law firm for legal advice and services.


MONITORING COMMITTEE

Awacak participates in the follow-up committee provided for under Bill 79, to help improve the services offered.

The follow-up committee is made up of representatives from the Direction de soutien aux familles, Awacak, Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, Quebec Native Women,  Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw, Regroupement des Centres d'amitié autochtone, Commission des droits de la personne et de la jeunesse du Québec and representatives of the opposition parties, as well as the elder Ejinagosi Kistabish as consultant.
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An annual report is submitted to the National Assembly and to the indigenous communities concerned. The modalities for presenting the report are established with the follow-up committee.