More than seven decades after departing from his residence in the northern Quebec village of Manawan, the remains of an Atikamekw infant were discovered in Quebec City following the extraction from a communal grave.
The family of Bébé Maxime can now find solace as he is set to be reinterred in his native community. Manon Ottawa devoted 12 years to locating her uncle, Joseph Paul Maxime Ottawa, encountering numerous obstacles throughout her quest.
Her father’s younger sibling, only six months old at the time, was airlifted unaccompanied to La Tuque, Que., and subsequently Quebec City for eczema treatment. Unfortunately, this marked the final sighting of him by his family, as he succumbed to health complications in the provincial capital 43 days later on October 5, 1954, as per legal records.
However, it was not until two years later that his family was informed of his demise. No death certificate was issued, and his remains remained unaccounted for until this recent discovery. Ottawa’s determination stemmed from a promise made to her father on his deathbed to conduct research into the matter.
Reflecting on the emotional journey, Ottawa expressed her regret that the infant’s parents are not alive to witness his return to their community. She shared poignant memories of her grandmother’s longing gaze towards the lake, now understanding it as a reflection of her continued hope for her lost child.
To support her investigation, Ottawa sought assistance from Awacak, an organization aiding Indigenous families in locating relatives who disappeared from health facilities in Quebec. Olivia Malenfant, a lawyer for Awacak, highlighted the significance of the Quebec Superior Court’s unprecedented decision in 2025 to permit the exhumation of Bébé Maxime from a mass grave, facilitating his reunion with his family.
Awacak is actively engaged in assisting families in tracing around 250 Indigenous children who vanished from Quebec health facilities. After 72 years, Bébé Maxime will be laid to rest in Manawan on Monday, accompanied by a ceremonial observance. Ottawa, visibly emotional during a news conference, brought a baby carrier and a pair of miniature moccasins, symbolizing the preparations to escort Bébé Maxime to the ancestral lands.
