Grassy Narrows is a First Nations Community in northern Ontario where youth suicide has risen at an alarming rate. The impact on families in this community of 1,500 has been nothing short of devastating.
To properly examine the brutal truth behind Grassy Narrows, we must explore the effects of mercury contamination in their water supply, resulting in horrifying mental and emotional consequences and health issues that have disproportionately affected youth. Between 1962 and 1970, an industrial paper mill within proximity of the community discharged ten metric tons of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system - a water source critical to the residents of Grassy Narrows. The local fish were, naturally, the first victims of this environmental disaster and, of course, they form an important part of the community’s diet. As a result, the mercury permeated through the food chain, from the fish up to the residents of the Grassy Narrows community who consumed them. The toxic levels of mercury contamination continue to plague the local ecosystem today, dramatically reducing the quality of life for generations. This is a tragedy that children should not have to live with, especially in Canada. Significant Health Implications Mercury poisoning causes both physical and mental health consequences. Individuals that inhale the deadly substance can become victims of neurological and behavioural disorders, developmental problems as well as various crippling diseases. As the contamination works its way through the ecosystem, fetuses become exposed to mercury through the placenta, causing an intergenerational ripple effect of disease. The psychological damage is also devastating, resulting in a huge rise in cases of depression, anxiety, and general hopelessness among many members of the community. The Alarming Rise in Youth Suicide Researchers and community members have made yet another tragic link between the contaminated water source and its downstream effects - an extraordinary rise in the local suicide rate among youth, which is over three times of other First Nations communities in Canada. There were no documented suicide cases in Grassy Narrows before the mercury dump. Thus, the poisoned water has not only deprived the community of its physical well-being but also left an indelible mark on its youth, taking away from them what all human beings should be entitled to by right - a safe and healthy environment. The Right to a Healthy Environment The United Nations recognizes clean and healthy living as a basic human right. This right in particular has special meaning for Indigenous communities such as Grassy Narrows since they are intimately connected to the land. Nevertheless, the mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows clearly demonstrates the denial of such a right, as the community has been robbed of its access to clean and safe water. This contamination, and the resulting theft of clean water access, has far-reaching consequences and demands to be viewed in the historical context of First Nations communities having their rights and resources stripped away by Canadian governments and corporations. Children’s Rights and the Grassy Narrows Tragedy First Nations children are the most vulnerable to environmental contamination. Grassy Narrows acts as a powerful reminder of the need to give children the right to grow and develop - like all children - in a stable and healthy environment. It is heartbreaking beyond words that the reckless mercury poisoning of the English-Wabigoon River system continues to be the cause of high suicide rates. Although the Grassy Narrows community is known to be resilient, the struggle to cope with mercury poisoning continues. Traditional economic activities have been dramatically impacted, mental and physical health has been impacted across generations, and suicide rates continue to climb. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxic wastes, Baskut Tuncak, visited Grassy Narrows and concluded, “There exists a pattern in Canada where marginalized groups, Indigenous peoples in particular, find themselves on the wrong side of a toxic divide, subject to conditions that would not be acceptable elsewhere in Canada.” As always, when discussing potential violations in human rights, children are the most vulnerable. |
AuthorKatrina Sriranpong is a philanthropist with a passion for aiding disadvantaged children, advocating for refugees from war-torn countries as well as promoting animal rights and protection. Archives
April 2024
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