After more than 20 years the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two Montagnais may finally be cleared up. Their families allege that the Surete du Quebec police covered up the deaths of Achille Voilant and Moise Regis.
A coroner’s report ruled they accidentally died by drowning, but the families say they suspect a run-in with game wardens resulted in their deaths. Judge Yvon Roberge agreed with the families that there was enough evidence to warrant further examination of the case and ordered that the bodies be exhumed and shipped to Montreal for forensic analysis.
Voilant and Regis went fishing on June9,1977. Their canoe was found empty the next day and the bodieswere found washed ashore separately. A police officer brought the canoe off of one of the widows.A 1997 television show suggested the deaths were caused after game wardens rammed the canoe and aviolent fight ensued. After the fight the men were allegedly left to die and the cause of deathcovered up.
