| Grassy Narrows |
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The Grassy Narrows First Nation lives at the border of Ontario and Manitoba, near Kenora. Under a 1873 treaty (known as Treaty 3), the Grassy Narrows First Nation was given the right to engage in hunting and fishing on its traditional lands. Since that time, the community has relied on these activities for subsistence. However, forestry operations have threatened the Grassy Narrows community. In the 1970s, pollution from a pulp and paper mill contaminated local rivers with mercury, which has caused health problems in the community. More recently, clear-cutting on Grassy Narrows’ land has seriously undermined the community’s ability to hunt and fish because it has destroyed wildlife habitat. Nearly 50% of the community’s traditional land-base has already been clear-cut, and logging operations have been approved to continue until 2024. The Grassy Narrows First Nation is resisting the destruction of its land and livelihood. They repeatedly asked Abitibi and Weyerhauser (the companies responsible for the clear-cutting) to halt operations in their forests, and when this failed, members of the community started a blockade in an attempt to prevent logging trucks from removing timber. Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister has formally declared a moratorium on all industrial activity within the community’s traditional land use area. Despite repeated appeals from Grassy Narrows, the provincial government has made no effort to mediate this conflict or to protect the community’s land rights. In fact the government has approved continued logging in the region for the next two decades! The plight of the Grassy Narrows First Nation has gained the attention of environmental and human rights groups from around the world. Lend your voice to protect aboriginal rights and the environment!
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