Hundreds marched to Queen’s Park in Toronto on Wednesday to demand motion to assist folks in Grassy Narrows First Nation, a northwestern Ontario neighborhood that has confronted a long time of mercury contamination.
The Stroll for Mercury Justice was the fruits of River Run 2024, a grassroots motion to deal with the poisoning that has impacted about 90 per cent of the inhabitants of Grassy Narrows, also referred to as Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek.
Led by about 100 members of Grassy Narrows, the demonstrators went from Grange Park to the Ontario Legislature, the place they unfurled an almost 150-square-metre banner exterior the entrance entrance.
Supporters stroll with Grassy Narrows First Nation members to Queen’s Park in Toronto to demand justice for the continued mercury contamination in the neighborhood. (Alex Lupul/CBC)
“I really feel indignant,” stated Chrissy Isaacs, who helped manage the caravan of activists that drove from Grassy Narrows to Toronto.
“This is a matter that is been ongoing for over 50 years. I have been one of many folks which were voicing this since I used to be a youngster, and I am a grandmother now.”
Mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows First Nation dates again to the Sixties and ’70s, when the Dryden Paper Mill dumped about 9 tonnes of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River System. (Alex Lupul/CBC)
Contamination issues date again to the Sixties and ’70s, when the Dryden Paper Mill dumped about 9 tonnes of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River System, and has affected Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong Impartial Nation, each Ojibway First Nations.
Individuals on the rally voiced three key calls for:
Compensation for all members of Grassy Narrows affected by mercury poisoning. An finish to industrial threats to the neighborhood’s conventional land. Assist for mercury remediation efforts, so members can safely perform conventional practices.
Fewer than 1,000 folks reside in Grassy Narrows. Whereas the province is main remediation efforts within the river system, and the federal authorities says it is spending hundreds of thousands of {dollars} on a Mercury Care Dwelling, neighborhood members say change is not occurring rapidly sufficient.
“If that occurred in Toronto, it will be taken care of straight away. Why is Grassy Narrows having to struggle for over 50 years to have good well being, to have clear water?” stated Isaacs.
Issues about consuming fish
In June, Grassy Narrows filed a lawsuit in Ontario’s Superior Court docket of Justice in opposition to the provincial and federal governments. The lawsuit argues the governments have violated their duties below Treaty 3 by failing to guard in opposition to or treatment the results of mercury contamination within the English-Wabigoon River system.
The go well with got here shortly after analysis out of London’s College of Western Ontario was launched, suggesting the contamination is being made worse by ongoing industrial air pollution from the mill.
Individuals maintain arms in Toronto on the Stroll for Mercury Justice, the fruits of River Run 2024, a grassroots motion led by Grassy Narrows First Nation. (Alex Lupul/CBC)
Fish are a staple a part of the neighborhood’s food plan, however additionally one of many major methods the mercury contamination has been transmitted.
“It form of makes issues troublesome as a result of … we have now lots of people in our neighborhood that like to fish on a regular basis,” stated Paris Meekis, a member of Grassy Narrows who participated within the rally in Toronto.
“It is fairly onerous, particularly when the water is contaminated. Half the time, I personally do not wanna eat it, however my household grew up consuming it.”
Signs of mercury poisoning can embrace tremors, insomnia, reminiscence loss, neuromuscular results, complications, and cognitive and motor dysfunction.
“It is a progressive illness, in order you become older, you get increasingly more signs,” Isaacs stated. “I am beginning to have a tough time strolling and I’ve a tough time opening water bottles typically — or typically I simply get tremors out of nowhere.”
What governments are saying
Ontario Chronicle reached out to the workplace of Greg Rickford, Ontario’s minister of Indigenous affairs and First Nations financial reconciliation, final week to ask whether or not he would meet with members on the rally. A spokesperson didn’t reply that query, however offered an emailed assertion on Tuesday.
“The Ministry of the Atmosphere, Conservation and Parks stays dedicated to working with First Nations and stakeholders, in direction of the remediation of mercury contamination within the English and Wabigoon Rivers,” wrote Flavia Mussio.
She talked about the work underway with the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel and the $85-million English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Belief, and stated additional evaluation of the contaminated space is ongoing, “to acquire a whole understanding of the extent and site of contamination within the river system.”
These impacted by signs of mercury poisoning can even entry advantages by way of the Mercury Incapacity Fund, she added.
Protesters name for many who’ve skilled mercury poisoning to be compensated, for Grassy Narrows’ conventional land to be protected against industrial threats and for additional remediation efforts to revive the neighborhood’s conventional methods of life. (Alex Lupul/CBC)
For the federal authorities’s half, spokesperson Jennifer Kozelj offered an emailed assertion on behalf of Indigenous Providers Minister Patty Hajdu.
“Water is life, and we have now a deep duty collectively to guard water high quality for all generations,” the assertion stated. “It is just by working collectively that we are able to do that necessary work. Everybody deserves to reside in a wholesome and secure atmosphere, together with First Nations whose communities are too typically positioned downwind, downstream, and subsequent to polluting industrial services.
“To the hundreds marching in the present day: I hear you and see you, and my dedication to you stays steadfast,” the assertion added.
Kozelj stated the federal government stays dedicated to working with the neighborhood and supporting its wellness imaginative and prescient. She additionally pointed to the First Nations Clear Water Act, which was launched “to make it possible for what occurred at Grassy Narrows by no means occurs once more.”
The federal authorities beforehand instructed Ontario Chronicle it has dedicated $77 million for the development of a Mercury Care Dwelling in Grassy Narrows, and $68.9 million for operations, upkeep and specialised service supply. Whereas building was hoped to start this summer time, the undertaking has but to interrupt floor. It is anticipated to take about two to 3 years to finish.
The stroll from Grange Park to Queen’s Park in Toronto drew massive crowds. The province says it is main remediation efforts within the English-Wabigoon River System; Ottawa says it is supporting the development of a Mercury Care Dwelling in Grassy Narrows First Nation. (Alex Lupul/CBC)
At Wednesday’s rally, Steve Fobister of Grassy Narrows stated each ranges of presidency preserve passing the buck on who ought to take duty for what’s occurring in his neighborhood.
“They move it round, they move the hearth on. It is not necessary to them. It is not a precedence,” he stated. “It ought to be a precedence as a result of it is a actually severe environmental difficulty.”
Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle instructed CBC’s Up North that it feels good to see a lot help for his neighborhood. Nevertheless, he hasn’t heard immediately from the provincial or federal governments in regards to the rally.
“It actually reveals that this difficulty shouldn’t be a precedence, that it is taking form of a again seat once more,” Turtle stated. “However we’re simply going to proceed urgent on and make it possible for this difficulty is in entrance of each governments till it has been adequately handled.”
