Photo credit: the Varsity
Last Wednesday, thousands rallied in Queen’s Park, Toronto, demanding justice for the ongoing mercury crisis plaguing Grassy Narrows First Nation.
The First Nation organized the rally and was supported by over six hundred non-profits, unions, and human rights groups.
Tagged the Grassy Narrows River Run rally, the demands were for provincial and federal governments to compensate Grassy Narrows for the ongoing mercury pollution in the Wabigoon River system, end industry development on Grassy Narrows’ territories and support the restoration of traditional way of life.
Journalist, author and activist Desmond Cole said the initial poisoning of the Grassy Narrows people occurred when mercury was dumped in the river in the 1960s. The effects of such a disaster continue to be felt by residents for generations.
The Varsity also reports that students of the University of Toronto were not left behind. On September 17, the University of Toronto students’ Union, the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students’ Union, Regenesis UTSG, and U of T’s Student Environmental Resource Network released a joint Instagram post calling on students to “join (them) in standing up for what’s right and protecting our ricers for generations to come.”
