until January 31, 2022.
Free and informed consent
Imposed sterilizations among First Nations and Inuit Women in Quebec
Phase II
Since the publication in November 2022 of the report entitled Free and Informed Consent and Imposed Sterilizations among First Nations and Inuit Women in Quebec, several women have expressed a desire to share their stories. The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador has requested that the research continue, and has adopted a declaration to this effect. In response to the women’s requests and to further advance the state of knowledge on the subject, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC), in collaboration with the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, has launched the second phase of research on free and informed consent and imposed sterilizations among First Nations women in Quebec.
Data collection and new research report
The data collection for the second phase is officially complete. It was conducted from July 17, 2023, to May 31, 2024. A second report is currently being written and will be available in the coming months.
The FNQLHSSC would like to thank all those who shared their truths during the second phase of this research. Your words have enlightened our path and enriched our research. Thank you for your trust and courage.
A huge thank you to the participating communities for warmly welcoming researchers Suzy Basile and Patricia Bouchard.
Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice
The Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice is a non-profit organization dedicated to listening to, supporting and valuing the experiences of Indigenous women who have been subjected to forced or coerced sterilization. By placing the voices and priorities of these survivors at the heart of its actions, this organization aims to create spaces for healing while promoting collective initiatives to develop health, well-being and reproductive justice resources. Led by survivors, the organization supports these women in their recovery journeys, while advocating for a more just and inclusive future.
For more information, visit the Facebook page or the website.
Additional information
For more information or if you have any questions about the research, please contact the people below.
- Patricia Bouchard by email at patricia.bouchard@uqat.ca, by phone at 514‑226‑4663 or by Messenger
- Suzy Basile by email at suzy.basile@uqat.ca or by Messenger
Support and accompaniment
Legal services to support you
Legal services present in several regions of Quebec and offer free support to people who want to file a complaint or request access to their medical record:
Services for people who want personalized legal advice (not just support):
- Legal aid provides legal services at no cost, or for a fee, to financially eligible individuals who request them.
- Justice Pro Bono provides free legal services to people who are in a precarious financial situation. If they are eligible, they are then paired with volunteer lawyers.
More rights and remedies
For more information about rights and remedies for First Nations and Inuit in Quebec in terms of access to health services, click here.
The main resources to help you file a complaint :
- La Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
- Le Collège des médecins du Québec
The First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line is available by phone at 1 855 242-3310 or through the online chat counselling service.
Don’t hesitate to contact your health centre.
Phase I
To draw a specific portrait of the imposed sterilizations of First Nations and Inuit woment in Quebec, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC) and the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) have combined their knowledge while partnering with many representatives of First Nations, Inuit and other organizations.
Between May 2021 and January 2022, First Nations and Inuit women in Quebec, aged 18 and over, who believe they have been sterilized without their consent or been subjected to obstetric violence, were asked to share their testimonies in a confidential, respectful and safe space.
Highlights:
- The majority of research participants were between the ages of 17 and 33 when they were sterilized; from a biological standpoint, the optimal time to bear children is between the ages of 20 and 35. The last case of imposed sterilization reported in Quebec was in 2019.
- For 22 of the total 35 participants (63%), a tubal ligation was the only method of contraception proposed to them, regardless of how old they were or how many children they had had.
- The sterilizations were carried out in a hurry, often after childbirth; the participants had never spoken with their doctor about contraception during their prenatal care, and there was no medical reason for carrying out an emergency procedure.
Conference:
On december 8, for les dîners conférences autochtones presented by UQAT, Suzy Basile, lead researcher, and Patricia Bouchard, doctoral student, gave a conference to present the research report. Watch the conference by clicking here.
Partner organizations
Recommendations and commitment
The participants and the research team proposed 31 recommendations. Click here to read the recommandations.
On November 24, 2022, the Chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador unanimously adopted the Declaration of Commitment to Ensure Free, Prior and Culturally Informed Consent in Health Services for First Nations Girls and Women in Quebec. Click here to read the Declaration.
About the research
In 2015, research by Professor Karen Stote demonstrated that thousands of First Nations and Inuit women in Canada have been subjected to imposed sterilization. Although the literature shows that this is a long-standing and worldwide practice, there is currently little documentation on this subject in Quebec. In addition, Quebec is the only province that refused to take part in the work launched by the federal government in 2018 to examine the situation of imposed sterilization in the country.
Thus, given the importance of advancing the file on informed consent and imposed sterilization, of documenting the practice rigorously and of assessing whether First Nations and Inuit women in Quebec have had their rights violated, a regional committee was created. The committee is made up of the following organizations:
This research is part of the work of the Canada Research Chair on Indigenous Women’s Issues at UQAT, led by Professor Suzy Basile. More specifically, this is the theme of the research of doctoral student in Indigenous Studies at UQAT, Patricia Bouchard.
This research has obtained ethical certification from UQAT and it complies with the policies, protocols and guidelines for research with Indigenous peoples in force.