https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/letters/article-aug-13-pride-in-bianca-andreescus-sportsmanship-plus-other-letters/

Re Former Grassy Narrows Chief Who Fought For Mercury Treatment Centre Laid To Rest As Battle With Ottawa Continues (Aug. 12): Simon Fobister, former chief of Grassy Narrows First Nation, died without knowing if his people will have a local treatment centre “to provide specialized treatment and palliative care for some of the hundreds of Grassy Narrows people who are believed to suffer from mercury poisoning.”

The tonnes of mercury that were dumped into the Wabigoon River-system have turned it into Canada’s Chernobyl. The people simply can no longer live in their traditional ways on the land. For those for whom it is too late, we need to provide the assisted living, and palliative care they seek.

For the spirit of Simon Fobister to rest in peace, we must first acknowledge what a modern industrialized society has done to destroy the lives of the people who were here before us. Only then will we understand how we must play second fiddle as we attempt to build trust with them.

The First Nations have to spearhead this project. We have to help. This time, we have nowhere to hide.

Hugh McKechnie, Newmarket, Ont.