Grassy Narrows
Science
Case Study
By: Kim, Olivia, Grace and Ryley
November 13, 2017
Background Info
1) Background Information on Indigenous Communities and Safe Drinking Water
- Water regulation involving First Nations is very important. More than 140 First Nations still lack access to safe drinking water.
- The reason for the unsafe drinking water is due to the fact that there were no laws and regulations governing the provision of water in the First Nations communities. The design and construction of water services and systems still lack efficiency.
- Since all Canadians should have access to reliable, clean and safe drinking water, the idigenous community works toward this goal.
- They try to maintain peoples health by restricting certain items such as manure, wastewater and solid waste from entering their water sources.
Location of Grassy Narrows Community
- Location and design is also very important to them as it will be used to serve the community. The lack of safe drinking water is harming the indigenous community's health and to counter that, they are taking action. Now there are even guides to support First Nations in providing community water and wastewater services.
- 73% of First Nations water systems in 2013 were at high or medium risk of contamination
- People look forward to health and environmental concerns, community employment realting to the water, and responsibility to the community.
Fish that has been effected by the mercury in the water
- The government and indigenous communities in collaboration also came up with a solution that develops public funding and water services with local management and legislation to monitor drinking water quality and safety.
- They will undertake technical assesments of existing drinking water system, including water quality and sampling.
- Indigenous communities are also training others while under development such as having courses/programs for water operating.
- With all problems in creating a safe drinking environment in the indigenous community, they will support through management, bringing in clean developments, and creating job contributions.
Water contaminated with mercury
2) What is the Problem? (Grassy Narrows 1960-70s)
Problem
- In 1962, 9000 kilograms of mercury was spilled into the English-Wabigoon river
- A mix of mercury and salt was dumped into a pit behind a mill
- The mercury leaked through the soil and seaped into the river system
Explain why the problem is important
- The mercury affected the life within the river
Explain why the problem is important
- The river system was their main resource for food
- They were forced to stop high levels of fishing
- -Mercury poisoning is very threatening
How was the problem identified?
- Residents started noticing that the people who had eaten the fish or used the water were showing high levels of mercury poising
How was the problem identified?
- Officials were sent to check the mercury levels
- Very high levels of mercury were found in the soil
3) Impact on Grassy Narrows Community
Impact on Communtiy
Water that is impacted by mercury contamination
Health Impacts:
- The Grassy Narrows community has been suffering from the devastating effects of mercury in their local lakes and rivers
- About five decades ago, a paper mill dumped about ten tonnes of mercury into the Wabigoon-English River system, which severly contaminated the water, harming many ecosytems and living organsisms, as well as human drinking and sanitation water
- The people living in a northern Ontario community near the contamination are still suffering the neurological effects of mercury poisoning
Impact on Grassy Narrows Community
Health Impacts (continued):
- On September 20, researches releas...
Warning of mercury content in bodies of water
Health Impacts (continued):
- On September 20, researches released findings showing that over 90 percent of residents in the Grassy Narows community displayed signs of mercury poisoning;
- Some diagnosed symptoms include loss of motor function, tingling and weakness in the limbs and, difficulty speaking and swallowing
- As well, many parents belive that physical abnormalities, developmental delays, and even terminal illness in children are related to the water contamination
Impacts on Grassy Narrows Community
Health Impacts (continued)
- In 2014, a total of 84 people from the Grassy Narrows community, were examined. Of those 84 people, only seven showed no signs of sencery disturbance
- Everyday, people in the Grassy Narrows community struggle with tasks that used to be simple to them such as doing up their coat jacket, or navigating a touch screen on a smartphone
- Symptoms in young children can include permanent impairment of brain functions such as speech, sight and hearing, in addition to convulsions, uncontrollable limb movements and loss of balance
- The level of mercury found in the umbilical cords of babies in Grassy Narrows First Nations was high enough to affect their brain development
Grassy Narrows Chiefs fighting for their right to clean water
Impact on Grassy Narrows Community
Moral Impacts:
- The citizens of the Grassy Narrows Community have been seriously impacted by the toll of mercury in their water
- This situation has affected the mental health of many Indigenous people and there have been a plethora of people who have taken their own life including Azraya Kokopenace, who was only 15 years old
- Many people have been affected by this tragety, family member and friends have either died or have had their lives changed immesly by the serious physical and mental imacts of the mercury contamination
Kids and parents advocating for their right to clean water
Impact on the Grassy Narrows Community
Impacts on the Community as a Whole:
- Citizens of the Grassy Narrows Community have been seriously impacted by the mercury contamination, but so have millions of animals and wildlife
- This contamination has greatly affected fish, frogs, turtles, clams, and all other reptiles and animals that depend on water for their habitat
- As well, the contaminated water has affected animasla that live near the affected water and that is their main source of water
- If animals take in this mercury poison, researchers say their reproductive rates dramatically slow down and it can cause deformities in newborn and fully grown animals
A beaver that has been affected by mercury poisining in his or her habitat
Impact on Grassy Narrows Community
A story to be told:
- 65 year old former chief, skilled hunter, and devoted advocate for his community, Steve Fobister was one of the hardest hit by the mercury contaimation
- He now has difficulty standing and swallowing, and leans heavily on a walker to shuffle though his bungalow
- For Steve, talking is a chore, and in order to do this, he has to hold his lower jaw with his thumb to reduce the shaking long enough to form words
- He is compensated with $250 a month by the Mercury Disability Board
- Fobister expresses his concern for his grandchildren and himself
Steve Fobister, right, before he was effected by mercury poisining
Steve Fobister after he was effected by the mercury contamination
Steps Taken
4) Steps taken to address the problem
- There were very minamal steps taken by the Candian government
- The Canadian government did not seem to prioritze Grassy Narrows as not much attention was given by the government
- Government insisted that the lake would solve itself and that in time the mercury would go away
Recent Developments as of June 2017
Recent Developments
- The mercury spill has had many effects on the Grassy Narrows Community including health impacts, mental health, and the poisining of water animals
- As of June 2017, there have been a few temporary but notable acts by the governemnt to take action and help the Grassy Narrows Community clean up their land after the contamination of mercury in their water
- After many hard years for the citizens of the Grassy Narrows Community, Justin Trudeau felt obliged to take action by investing his interests in the water crisis that affects the Grassy Narrows Community and surrouding First Nations Communities
The governemnt of Canada is willing to step up and help the Grassy Narrows Community
Recent Step As Of June 2017
- Trudeau's first budget pledged almost $2 billion for water and wastewater infastructure over the course of five years
- As well, this includes $1.8 billion for water facility operation and maintenance and $141.7 million for monitoring and testing of drinking water, with the aim to end the boil-water advisories during the alloted period
- Along with the pledged money, drinking water advisories were in effect across 85 First Nations Communities across Canada, with the majority of groups located in Ontario
- Although the groups were established before June of 2017, they have reunited to deal with the present issue
First Nation and Grassy Narrows Comunity meetings
Recent Steps As Of June 2017
- As of June 2017, Ontario annouced that it would pledge $85 million to clean up industrial mercury contamination that is poisoning the people at Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong First Nations in northwestern Ontario
- Ontario had decided that cleaning up the mercury is an important issue, as the Grassy Narrows Community should have the right to own clean, safe, and free of mercury land, that is is suitable for their needs
- Removing the mercury from the entire water system will prove to be a challenge, but Ontario has pledged money to clean up damaged land, houses, and businesses as mercury has wiped out a tremendous amount of land located in the Grassy Narrows Community
Effects of mercury on the land
6) Lessons Learned
(Opinion and what we can learn as a country)
- It has become quite unbelievable for such a reliable country to push a problem like this aside for over 50 years.
- Residents have shown signs of sensory deprivation, weakness in limbs and skin irritations such as psoriasis and eczema.
- This issue has caused a lot of controversy with many asking why Canada hadn’t taken action sooner.
- Glenn Murray, said “If you ask me when would I like to have done this? Fifty years ago,” Murray said in an interview Tuesday. “I have never seen a case of such gross neglect. I am embarrassed as a Canadian that this ever happened and I can’t understand how people for 50 years sat in that environment office knowing this was going on as a minister and simply didn’t do anything about it.”
Lessons Learned
- Canada’s global representation as a right-respecting country with an abundance of freshwater would be one of the last places we expected to have safety concerns for people regarding hazardous sources of water.
- Grassy Narrows isn’t the only situation like this. Amanda Klasing states, “As The Globe and Mail detailed Monday in its excellent reporting on water safety, there are currently 158 similar drinking water advisories in 114 First Nation communities. This statistic doesn't reveal the full extent of water problems facing First Nations communities. Some lack any running drinking water, relying only on trucks and cisterns, and many households rely on well water, which is often contaminated. The basic human right to water is seriously at risk in First Nations communities across Canada.”
- Paula Hill sums up the idea in an article about Grassy Narrows after her experience at a celebration regarding Canada Day Weekend and Canada's 150th Birthday
- In conclusion, we think that we should be more responsible in the care for our country as well as try our best to maintain and address issues involving cultural diversity and biodiversity.
Bibliograhy
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/why-is-canada-denying-its-indigenous-peoples-clean-water/article31599791/?ref=https://www.theglobeandmail.com&
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/27/ontario-gives-85-million-to-clean-up-gross-neglect-at-grassy-narrows.html
http://www.grassynarrows.ca/
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/grassy-narrows-new-japanese-report-1.3768030
http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/children-of-the-poisoned-river-mercury-poisoning-grassy-narrows-first-nation/