Grassy WINS cleanup promise after 40 years!!
See below for Ontario government statement
Chief Simon Fobister received momentous news when he met Premier Kathleen Wynne on Friday.
Premier Wynne promised to him that Ontario would clean up the English-Wabigoon River system and the Dryden Mill and that this cleanup would be led by Grassy Narrows First Nation!
Water has worn away the stone. After years of foot dragging, misleading, and back pedalling, Ontario has committed to do the right thing. This commitment is a direct result of sustained grassroots Indigenous resistance and ally support.
This is a moment for cautious celebration, but the work is not done. No schedule has been announced, and the remediation has not begun. Promises made before have been broken.
The clean up of the river, led by Grassy Narrows First Nation directly, is the first step. Grassy Narrows continues to call for a dignified Mercury Home for survivors in their community, a fair mercury compensation system, top quality health care, and a permanent Grassy Narrows environmental health monitoring station. Grassy Narrows is also calling for an end to planned clearcut logging on their homeland which would release more mercury into their lakes and rivers.
For over forty years (read brief history below), the people of Grassy Narrows have organized and fought for this commitment, and in the process they have become one of the lighting rods of Indigenous self-determination in Canada. Grassy’s win today shows us yet again that justice on these territories will come through the leadership of grassroots Indigenous communities.
Chief Fobister has a message for us. “I thank the grassroots people of Grassy Narrows, and our supporters who have been tireless in their work to gain justice for mercury survivors at long last
Let us continue until Grassy Narrows and all Indigenous communities win justice.
In solidarity,
FreeGrassy.net
A brief history of the struggle at Grassy Narrows
1962 – Dryden Chemical begins dumping 9,000 kg of mercury poison into Grassy Narrows’ river
1970 – Commercial fishing banned, dumping controlled.
1975 – Grassy Narrows protests in Dryden
1985 – Grassy Narrows gains basic mercury compensation
2002 – Dr. Hanada returns to Grassy Narrows to document ongoing health impacts
2010 – First of four River Run weeks of action led by Grassy Narrows in Toronto
2012 – Wynne commits to rebuild relationship with Grassy Narrows at fish fry on Queens Park front lawn
2014 – Hunger strike by Steve Fobister Sr. forces Minister Zimmer to commit to review inadequate mercury compensation and look into a Mercury Home for survivors in Grassy Narrows
2016 – Over 1,000 people march with Grassy Narrows in Toronto. Former worker reports burying mercury in a shallow pit behind the mill, contaminated soil found.
2017 – Wynne promises to clean the river under Grassy Narrows’ leadership.
Ontario government news release
Statement from Minister Zimmer, Minister Murray on the English Wabigoon River
On Friday, Premier Kathleen Wynne, along with Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray, met with Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister and David Suzuki.
Minister Zimmer and Minister Murray have released the following joint statement:
“Mercury contamination has had a profound impact on the people of Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) Independent Nations, and has to be properly addressed. On behalf of the Province of Ontario, we are completely committed to working with all partners to identify all potentially contaminated sites, and to creating and implementing a comprehensive remediation action plan for the English Wabigoon River. We are addressing mercury contamination in the river by collaborating with the First Nations and other partners on solutions based on the best available science and research. We have also been actively engaging the Federal Government and look forward to their contributions and assistance.
Right now, we are in the middle of a two year process designed by Dr. John Rudd, who leads the expert team that is advising Grassy Narrows and is funded by the province. This work will inform the extent of the mercury contamination in the river and determine which remediation options may be the most appropriate for each site, including enhanced natural recovery and capping.
We are committed to ensuring the First Nations’ rights and interests are at the forefront of decision making around options and implementation. As this is the home of the people of Grassy Narrows First Nation, the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations and other communities, their input into which remediation options for the contaminated sites are selected and implemented is necessary, as there may be benefits and risks associated with each of these site specific interventions.
New information regarding potential mercury contamination at the Domtar Industrial Site in Dryden has also come forward in the last few weeks. We are now conducting a full and rigorous mercury contamination assessment on the entire mill site, working closely with First Nations and Domtar. The results of this assessment will be shared with the communities. We need to be sure unequivocally if the site is an ongoing source of mercury, and if it is, then we need to work with partners to take all measures to stop further mercury from entering the river.
We understand the Federal Government is also committed to working with the province and Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations on the remediation work and we look forward to working with them as a key partner. We are also committed to working with Grassy Narrows, Wabaseemoong and the Federal Government to explore the best options for reforming the Mercury Disability Board process so that it aligns with the best interests of the two First Nations.
We will continue to work with the First Nations through regular meetings, and we are committed to providing updates on this work to the public. We know there continues to be significant work ahead for all and we are completely committed to working together with the First Nations and the Federal Government to ensure sufficient actions are taken.”
Media coverage
Toronto Star: Ontario ‘completely committed’ to mercury cleanup at Grassy Narrows
CBC: Ontario commits to cleanup of mercury contamination near Grassy Narrows First Nation
Leave a Reply