I am alarmed by the recently-declared state of emergency in Grassy Narrows First Nation over unsafe drinking water. Reports show that water in the community is still not safe to drink, even after boiling. I urge immediate action by the Federal government to repair, upgrade, and maintain Grassy Narrows’ drinking water system.

The people of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) have already paid too-high a price for the contamination of their waters. In recent years, studies commissioned by Asubpeeschoseewagong show that the mercury dumped into the Wabigoon-English river system in the 1960s has settled near the surface of the river bed and has not been buried deeply under sediment, as erroneously predicted by government scientists. Grandparents, parents, and even young children continue to suffer the devastating health impacts of mercury contamination as it bioaccumulates through the food web into the fish that residents eat. Additionally, the Ontario’s Ministry of Environment recently found the turbidity of Grassy Narrows’ water at 120 times Ontario guidelines for safe water, and that it contains potentially carcinogenic chemicals. These findings follow a “Do Not Consume” water order parts of the community have been under for over 2 years, making Grassy Narrows one of over 90 First Nations across the country coping with drinking water advisories (Health Canada, 2015).

To quote Asubpeeschoseewagong Councillor Randy Turtle from a statement released August 27, 2015:

“We are scared that our drinking water has been unsafe for a long time now and the federal government does not seem to care at all. Our people have already been poisoned by mercury and now we have to deal with unsafe drinking water.”

A 2011 report from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada calculated that $1.08 billion would address the total estimated construction costs to upgrade all First Nations water and wastewater treatment plants to meet federal and provincial standards. To add insult to injury, Privy Council Office documents obtained by CBC earlier this year revealed Aboriginal Affairs failed to spend essential funds on social service over the past 5 years. Indeed, we are concerned the Department of Aboriginal Affairs is neglecting its federal responsibility to guarantee First Nations’ right to clean drinking water, which harms the collective well-being of not only Asubpeeschoseewagong but of First Nations across Canada.

I demand immediate action to ensure Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek has access to clean drinking water. This is an unfulfilled federal responsibility and a human right that leaves all Canadian citizens another giant step away from true reconciliation.