We the undersigned request that Dalton McGuinty, on behalf of the government of Ontario, address the pressing concerns of Grassy Narrows First Nation regarding the continuing impact of mercury poisoning and other forms of contamination.
At the present time, there are multiple generations of Indigenous people from Grassy Narrows who are currently suffering from varying degrees of mercury poisoning and are in desperate need of medical treatment. This epidemic was brought about by the Dryden pulp mill, which released mercury and other contaminants into the English-Wabigoon river system – a body of water vital to the livelihood of Grassy Narrows – two generations ago. To this day, the peoples of Grassy Narrows continue to display symptoms ranging from body rashes to violent seizures and birth defects as a result of the toxins that have leeched into their water and food supplies.
Therefore, we the undersigned ask the government of Ontario to: 1) provide Grassy Narrows with the medical treatment of which they are in desperate need, so that they may enjoy the fullest quality of life as possible, and 2) take action against the industrial forestry companies and other corporations that continue to neglect the well-being of the peoples of Grassy Narrows, their duty to uphold the environmental standards set out by the government of Ontario, and the rights entrenched in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Developped by the students of York University's HR/EQ Indigenous Resistance in Global Context class. Toronto Ontario, Canada.
