Rally condemns idea of nuclear waste in North
Around 150 people comprised of representatives from 12 First Nation communities, grassroots First Nations people and supporters filled Waverley Park on Wednesday afternoon in a rally opposing the possible transport and disposal of nuclear waste in the North. The rally came on the heels of the 12 First Nations’ chiefs sending a letter to Nuclear Waste Management Organization president Laurie Swami opposing the potential storage of nuclear waste in Ignace. Many Indigenous people, like elder Katherine Fobister of Grassy Narrows First Nation, are suffering from mercury poisoning found in the rivers and lakes where they gather food. Many fear radiation from the transportation and disposal of nuclear waste would further risk the health of both people and animals. “There’s a plaque in Dryden, Ontario that says the mill started operating in 1916 and we didn’t hear about it till the 1970s when we were showing signs of mercury poisoning,” Fobister said. “Our animals are getting sick and most have moved out of our area. We have no more moose, no deer. They all left us and even the birds they know . . . they’re gone.” Fobister said adding nuclear waste to the north would be like “putting a bomb on what we have left.” “We had enough destruction. Our rivers and our waters are no good. We can’t drink from the lakes,” she said. Gary Quisiess of Neskantaga First Nation said Canada has “enough problems” already. “We were given the land to survive from, to live from — not to damage the land — and it’s very concerning what’s happening with this nuclear waste,” Quisiess said. “We don’t need this in Canada.” He pointed out the many waterways along the Trans-Canada Highway and said there should not be nuclear waste trucked and railed near them. “We shouldn’t have anything (dangerous) that’s going to impact our lives,” he said. Chief Rudy Turtle, of Grassy Narrows First Nation, said when it comes to billions of dollars on the table, you have to weigh out the short-term and the long-term benefits. “The short-term economic benefits will last maybe five to 25 years, versus what could be a potential disaster for hundreds of years, because nuclear waste just doesn’t go away,” Turtle said. “It’s not easy to clean up and people are impacted for the rest of their lives.” Turtle said he hopes that both the federal and provincial governments will hear the voices of the people. Chief Wilfred King, of Gull Bay First Nation, noted it’s not about money. “It’s about the environment. It’s about the longevity of our communities. It’s about, our communities living off the land,” King said. King is confident that the First Nation opposition will be heard but it’s a question of what will be done. “We’ve got response from members of the community that fully support our opposition to this initiative and working in conjunction with other First Nations is definitely going to push this matter through the chiefs of Ontario and so forth,” King said. 12 Participating First Nations The 12 First Nations who sent the opposition letter and hosted the rally are: • Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation). • Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake First Nation). • Wapekeka First Nation. • Neskantaga First Nation. • Muskrat Dam First Nation. • Ojibways of Onigaming. • Gull Bay First Nation. • Wauzhushk Onigum Nation. • Fort William First Nation. • Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg. • Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. • Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation.