Author: Suriya Ragu
December 10, 2024
Introduction
Grassy Narrows First Nation, or Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, is an Ojibwe community in northwestern Ontario, Canada, with a population of approximately 1,500. For decades, Grassy Narrows has been at the epicenter of severe environmental injustices and human rights violations perpetrated through systemic oppression and neglect by governmental and industrial entities. The community continues to suffer from the catastrophic legacy of mercury poisoning, industrial pollution, and violations of their treaty and human rights. This article examines how these practices have continuously oppressed the Indigenous people of Grassy Narrows, undermining their health, culture, and sovereignty.
Historical Context: Colonialism and Dispossession
Early Contact and Treaty 3
European contact with Indigenous peoples in, what is now, Canada began in the 11th century, but significant settlement did not occur until the 15th century. The Ojibwe people of Grassy Narrows traditionally lived off the land, relying on fishing, hunting, trapping, and guiding. The signing of Treaty 3 in 1873 between the Anishinabek and the Canadian government was intended to allow for peaceful coexistence, with the Ojibwe ceding land in exchange for the right to continue their traditional practices.
However, the Canadian government's interpretation of the treaty differed significantly from that of the Ojibwe. While the Anishinaabe viewed the treaty as a commitment to share the land and uphold their rights, the government saw it as a means to access resources and expand settlement, often disregarding Indigenous sovereignty and land rights.
Industrial Encroachment and Cultural Suppression
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, colonial policies aimed at assimilating Indigenous peoples disrupted traditional ways of life. The implementation of residential schools, the outlawing of spiritual practices, and the enforcement of assimilation policies eroded Indigenous cultures and identities. Grassy Narrows was no exception. Community members faced increasing pressure from government agencies seeking to modernize and exploit their lands.
In the mid-20th century, the Ontario government increased efforts to control Grassy Narrows' resources and land. The introduction of resource management and licensing in the 1940s and 1950s imposed restrictions on hunting, fishing, and trapping, undermining the community's economic autonomy. Large-scale industrial projects, such as hydroelectric dams, flooded wild rice fields and disrupted ecosystems essential to the community's sustenance.
Mercury Poisoning: A Community Devastation
The Dryden Mill Contamination
Between 1962 and 1970, the Dryden Chemical Company, a subsidiary of Reed Paper Limited, discharged approximately 9,000 kilograms of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system upstream from Grassy Narrows. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates in the tissues of fish and other wildlife. This contamination had catastrophic consequences for a community reliant on fishing as a primary food source and economic activity.
Health Impacts and Government Inaction
By the late 1960s, residents began experiencing symptoms of mercury poisoning, including numbness, tremors, cognitive impairments, and developmental issues in children. Japanese scientists, familiar with Minamata disease—a similar mercury poisoning case in Japan—conducted studies confirming the severe health impacts on the community.
Despite the alarming findings, both the provincial and federal governments were slow to respond. Initial measures included advisories against consuming fish and the closure of commercial fisheries, which devastated the local economy. Comprehensive cleanup efforts were delayed and government agencies often downplayed the severity of the situation. In 1997, Health Canada declared that mercury levels were no longer a concern, a claim later disproven by ongoing health issues and subsequent studies.
Recent Studies and Ongoing Health Crisis
Recent research continues to reveal the extent of the mercury poisoning. A study published in the journal Environmental Health confirmed that past mercury exposure is linked to current neurological issues in the community. An estimated 90% of Grassy Narrows residents exhibit symptoms of mercury poisoning, including among younger generations who were not born during the initial contamination period.
Dr. Donna Mergler, a physiologist and one of the study's authors, emphasized that these health problems are directly related to historical exposure, affecting people throughout their lives. The persistence of mercury in the environment and its bioaccumulation in the food chain mean that the crisis is far from over.
Forestry Management: Legal Battles and the Fight for Environmental Justice
The Blockade
The Whiskey Jack Forest, which constitutes two-thirds of the area in northwestern Ontario, is identified by Grassy Narrows as part of their traditional territory. This region has experienced severe clear-cut logging for decades. In 2002, due to the government's inaction and ongoing environmental degradation, community members established a blockade on a logging road to halt further industrial exploitation of their land. Initiated by the youth and supported by elders, this blockade has become the longest-running Indigenous logging blockade in Canadian history.
The blockade not only serves as a physical barrier to protect the forest, but it also stands as a powerful symbol of resistance. It has transformed into a hub for cultural education where traditional practices are taught, fostering unity among community members in their fight for sovereignty and environmental justice.
Court Cases and Government Promises
Grassy Narrows has actively pursued legal avenues to assert their rights. In 2005, they filed a lawsuit against the Ontario government, challenging the province’s authority to issue logging permits on their traditional lands without their consent. In 2011, the Ontario Superior Court ruled that logging operations could not proceed if they infringed on Indigenous rights protected under Treaty 3. However, this decision was overturned by the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2013, and the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal in 2014, making it significantly difficult to pursue legal challenges in the community’s quest for autonomy over their lands.
In 2017 the Ontario government committed to halting logging in Grassy Narrows until the Whiskey Jack Forest management plan expired in 2022. Subsequently, in 2022, Grassy Narrows' leadership enacted the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek Aaki Declaration, asserting sovereignty and banning all industrial logging, mining, and other resource development activities. Additionally, leading logging companies like Weyerhaeuser agreed not to source timber from Grassy Narrows without explicit permission from the community, marking a significant victory in their enduring struggle for environmental justice and land sovereignty.
Current Challenges
Sulfate Releases Increasing Methylmercury Effects
A recent study by Dr. Brian Branfireun has revealed that ongoing industrial discharge from a paper mill is exacerbating mercury contamination in the Wabigoon River system. While the mill's wastewater does not contain mercury, it is rich in sulfates and organic matter. These substances enhance the microbial conversion of existing inorganic mercury in the riverbed to methylmercury—the most toxic form of mercury that bioaccumulates in fish and, subsequently, in humans who consume them. The study suggests that methylmercury levels in the river's fish may be twice as high due to the mill's discharge compared to levels without such input.
Surge in Mining Claims
New threats have emerged with a surge in mining claims within Grassy Narrows' territory. Since 2018, more than 5,000 claims have been staked, facilitated by Ontario's "free entry" mining system that allows companies to explore and develop resources without prior consultation with Indigenous communities. This influx of mining activity poses severe risks to the environment, potentially releasing more mercury into the ecosystem and further undermining efforts to heal from past contamination.
Proposed Nuclear Waste Disposal Site
Adding to these concerns is the proposal by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to transport and store nuclear waste in a deep geological repository near Ignace, Ontario, a location close to Grassy Narrows and other First Nations communities. In October 2024, representatives from 12 First Nations, including Grassy Narrows, rallied against the proposed nuclear waste project. Many fear that the transportation and disposal of nuclear waste pose significant risks of radiation exposure and environmental contamination, which could further harm the health of both people and wildlife. The First Nations stress that such projects violate their rights and sovereignty by proceeding without their free, prior, and informed consent.
Delays in Constructing the Mercury Care Home
In 2020, the federal government committed $19.5 million to construct a mercury care home in Grassy Narrows, designed to provide specialized treatment for residents suffering from mercury poisoning. An additional $68.9 million was pledged in 2021 for operations and maintenance, totaling nearly $90 million for the project. As of June 2023, construction has not commenced, and the estimated cost has soared to $80 million, three times the initial budget for construction alone. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu attributed the delays and cost increases to the COVID-19 pandemic and the specialized nature of the facility. Chief of Grassy Narrows, Rudy Turtle, has publicly voiced concerns regarding the government’s wavering commitment, noting a discrepancy between past assurances and current actions. The ongoing delays are causing significant distress within the community, especially among those affected by mercury poisoning who are in dire need of specialized healthcare services.
Cultural Resilience and the Path Forward
The story of Grassy Narrows First Nation is one of enduring resilience in the face of profound adversity. Historical oppression, environmental devastation, and ongoing violations of their rights have challenged the community for generations. The exacerbation of mercury contamination due to industrial sulfate releases, the proposed nuclear waste disposal near their territory, and delays in critical healthcare infrastructure further compound their struggles.
Yet, Grassy Narrows' unwavering commitment to protect their land and preserve their culture underlines their remarkable fortitude. Their activism is not limited to legal battles and protests. The community has also organized culturally significant events and environmental initiatives. The annual Grassy Narrows River Run event in Toronto raises awareness and support for their cause, drawing attention from the media and solidarity from across the nation. Moreover, youth in Grassy Narrows lead environmental monitoring programs, using traditional knowledge and modern science to manage their lands sustainably and to document the ongoing impacts of pollution.
Addressing the crisis in Grassy Narrows thus demands more than mere remediation of environmental damage. It requires a transformative approach that honors Indigenous rights, upholds treaty obligations, and fosters true reconciliation. As Grassy Narrows continues its fight, the community’s journey provides essential insights into the importance of environmental justice, the repercussions of colonial policies, and the urgent need for systemic change to ensure a just and sustainable future for all. Their enduring activism and community engagement serve as a powerful testament to their strength and resilience, inspiring others to support their fight for justice and sovereignty.
Glossary
Adversity: A condition of significant hardship, challenge, or misfortune that requires resilience and adaptation, often arising from external or internal circumstances.
Anishinabek: Indigenous peoples of the Anishinaabe Nation, encompassing various communities across Canada and the United States, known for their shared cultural, linguistic, and spiritual traditions.
Assimilating: The process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms, values, and practices of another society, often at the expense of their own identity, traditions, or autonomy.
Autonomy: The ability or right to self-govern and make independent decisions, free from external control or influence, often in the context of personal, community, or political sovereignty.
Bioaccumulation: The accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate faster than that at which the substance is lost.
Blockade: A physical obstruction used to stop the flow of goods or people into or out of an area, often used as a form of protest or to enforce demands.
Ceding: The act of formally surrendering or transferring control of land, rights, or authority, often through a treaty or agreement
Cognitive impairments: Disruptions in mental functions, such as memory, attention, decision-making, or problem-solving, that affect an individual's ability to process information effectively.
Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Dispossession: The act of depriving someone of land, property, or other possessions. This term is often used to describe the historical and ongoing process through which Indigenous peoples have been deprived of their lands and resources.
Environmental degradation: The deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water, and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution.
Environmental injustice: The unfair exposure of certain communities, often marginalized and economically disadvantaged, to environmental hazards and the lack of meaningful involvement of these communities in the decision-making processes related to their environments.
Fortitude: Exceptional mental and emotional strength that enables individuals or communities to endure adversity with courage and determination.
Guiding: Leading others through the natural landscape and sharing knowledge of the environment for activities such as hunting, fishing, or exploration.
Indigenous people: The original inhabitants of a region or country, possessing unique cultural, linguistic, and spiritual traditions, often tied to their ancestral lands and distinct from the dominant societal groups that colonized or settled in the area.
Methylmercury: A highly toxic form of the metal mercury that accumulates in aquatic ecosystems, enters the food chain, and poses severe health risks to humans and wildlife through consumption of contaminated fish or water.
Microbial: Relating to microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or algae.
Minamata disease: A neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. It was named after Minamata Bay in Japan, where mercury-tainted industrial wastewater caused widespread disease in the community during the mid-20th century.
Neurotoxin: A substance that damages, disrupts, or destroys nerve tissue, potentially causing harm to the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, leading to conditions such as cognitive impairments or motor dysfunction.
Ojibwe: A group of Indigenous people belonging to the Anishinaabe Nation, known for their rich cultural traditions, connection to the land, and distinct language, spoken primarily in parts of Canada and the United States.
Physiologist: A scientist or medical expert specializing in the study of how living organisms function, focusing on biological systems, organs, and processes that sustain life.
Residential schools: Government-sponsored religious schools that were established to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. These schools were often sites of extensive physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Sovereignty: The authority of a state or a nation to govern itself or another state. For indigenous communities, it refers to their right to self-governance and control over their lands and resources, free from external interference.
Sulfate: A chemical compound containing sulfur and oxygen, commonly found in nature and used in various industrial processes. In environmental contexts, sulfate can influence chemical transformations, such as the conversion of mercury into toxic methylmercury by certain bacteria.
Systemic oppression: Persistent and pervasive unjust treatment of specific groups, supported and enforced by societal and institutional structures, policies, and practices.
Sources
Grassy Narrows First Nation. (2018). Declaration of the Indigenous Sovereignty and Protected Area.
Branfireun, B., et al. (2024). Industrial Discharge Exacerbating Mercury Contamination in Grassy Narrows.
Mergler, D., et al. (2022). Health Effects of Mercury Exposure in Grassy Narrows First Nation.
Forester, B. (2023). Grassy Narrows Chief Questions Federal Commitment to Mercury Care Home Amid Delays.
Krasowski, S. (2024). First Nations Rally Against Nuclear Waste Disposal in the North.
Government of Canada & Grassy Narrows First Nation. (2020). Memorandum of Agreement on Mercury Care Home.
Amnesty International. (2022). The Continuing Environmental and Human Rights Crisis in Grassy Narrows.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2007.
Grassy Narrows Reserve: Mercury Pollution, Social Disruption, and Natural Resources: A Question of Autonomy. (n.d.). JSTOR.