Grassy Narrows First Nation appeals to international human rights commission over mercury contamination

In its efforts to press the Ontario and federal governments to do more to address mercury contamination of its river, Grassy Narrows First Nation told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) that many community members have "lost hope" and struggle to go to work and school.

During the virtual public hearing on Tuesday, members of Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek, known as Grassy Narrows First Nation, called for justice after decades of mercury poisoning.

Contamination of the English-Wabigoon River system dates back to the 1960s and '70s, during which time the Dryden Paper Mill dumped an estimated nine tonnes of mercury into the water, affecting the Ojibway First Nations of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong Independent Nation.

The IACHR, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., addresses human rights conditions and violations in the Organization of American States (OAS). Canada is among 35 member states (countries) of the OAS.

Tuesday's hearing was held during the IACHR's 190th period of sessions that began Monday and run until July 19, both virtually and in person in Washington.

Grassy Narrows's case points to potential human rights violations under the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, relating to the First Nation's ability to protect its culture, the health and well-being of its people, and its social and economic security.

"Many [community members] have lost hope, to the point that they don't even try to live a normal life as we know it, such as going to work or going to school," Chief Rudy Turtle told the hearing. "They've lost their motivation to continue with their activities."

While no decision was made at the hearing's conclusion, the IACHR can make recommendations to the state involved — in this case, the provincial and federal governments — to make reparations and prevent future harms.

As well as Tuesday's IACHR hearing, attended by Amnesty International and Canada as participating parties, Grassy Narrows's other efforts on the mercury contamination issue have included: 

CBC News has reached out to Dryden Fibre Canada, which acquired the paper mill last year, and the story will be updated with any response.

About 90 per cent of the Grassy Narrows population of roughly 1,000 people, including Turtle, experience symptoms of mercury poisoning from consuming fish from the river. 

Constantine Tikhonov has spent over 20 years in the environmental public health division of what is now Indigenous Services Canada. Representing the state of Canada during the IACHR hearing, he discussed the history of Ottawa's efforts on the mercury contamination front.

Tikhonov noted the settlement reached with Ontario the federal government in the 1980s that led to the creation of the Mercury Disability Board and Mercury Disability Fund, and the province's English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Funding Act, which formalized funding for mercury remediation led by Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

There is also the long-awaited Mercury Care Home, construction on which is expected to start this summer and take two to three years to complete, and a new complementary health-care facility, which broke ground last year.