Activists from Grassy Narrows First Nation marked the International Day of the Child on Nov. 20 by calling for more to be done to clean up the mercury contamination which has caused serious heath problems for the members of that reserve community.

In a statement released on Thursday, activist and Grassy Narrows clan mother Judy Da Silva argued the ongoing effects of mercury on children being born in the community is a violation of Article 24 on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Article 24 states that children have the right “to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.” The article compels governments to take steps to diminish child mortality, ensure they get necessary medical assistance, combat disease and malnutrition, provide appropriate neonatal care, and so on.

Da Silva said the government is not living up to these obligations when it comes to the children on Grassy Narrows.

“Not all children in Grassy Narrows are disabled, but with each year, there are more children and youth born with health problems,” said De Silva.

“The very sad part about all this, is with our continuous, untiring effort to get justice there is nothing that will solve this loss of health and good life for these children and youth … We watch as our children inherit illnesses labeled with diseases that they cannot treat effectively in hospitals. We know it is because of mercury poisoning.”

Da Silva said she is calling on the provincial government to clean up the mercury which contaminated the Wabigoon and English River Systems after being released by a mill.

“The river needs to be cleaned up to stop this unlawful, relentless poisoning of innocent Anishinabe children at Grassy Narrows,” she said.