Ontario commits to clean mercury from English-Wabigoon River system

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OKT congratulates Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek – Grassy Narrows First Nation – on this historic milestone

In the 1960s, the pulp mill in Dryden, Ontario dumped 9 tonnes of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River, upstream of Grassy Narrows. It was never cleaned up.

50 years later, the Ontario government is finally committing to clean up the river and the associated mill site.

Research in the past year has found continued mercury contamination at the mill site, now owned by Domtar, and has also found that there is an ongoing source of mercury into the river.

Chief Simon Fobister welcomed the news, confirming that Premier Wynne promised that Grassy Narrows will lead the cleanup and that it would begin as soon as humanly possible.

“When our fish are safe to eat we will know that this promise has been kept,” Chief Fobister stated.

OKT congratulates Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek – Grassy Narrows First Nation – on this historic achievement.

We also think at this time of the many people from Grassy Narrows, past and present, who have suffered from mercury poisoning.

We are proud to work for Grassy Narrows on this critical issue. We look forward to seeing it through to real completion – when the people of Grassy Narrows can once again practice their culture and treaty rights freely, catching fish that are safe to eat.

by Judith Rae