Members of Grassy Narrows First Nation and hundreds of supporters marched on Queen’s Park yesterday (July 31), demanding the Kathleen Wynne government address the impacts of mercury contamination in the Wabigoon River.

The river was contaminated by more than of 20 tonnes of mercury in the 1960s by Dryden Chemicals. According to a press release, the band is demanding a formal apology, compensation for mercury survivors, access to health care, to clean up the river and to stop clear-cutting forests.

Meanwhile, the Ontario Government recently finalized approvals to clear-cut forests on Grassy Narrows traditional territory.

Mercury contamination of the Wabigoon-English River system may be exacerbated by clear-cut logging, which is known to disrupt watersheds and release mercury naturally stored by the forests.