Grassy Narrows First Nation

Grassy Narrows First Nation is a First Nation mentioned in Anishinabek News.

In Anishinabek News

• June 2014: The community was the focus of the Keewatin legal case regarding Treaty rights. Legal issues originating in this community were described as having a potential impact on all First Nations in Ontario.
• September 2014: A Supreme Court of Canada decision involving Grassy Narrows First Nation reaffirmed the power of Ontario to violate treaties. The community has faced extreme peril to its treaty rights due to mercury dumping, hydro damming, and clear-cut logging. The legal case for Grassy Narrows First Nation centered on whether the province met its obligations under Treaty 3.
• April 2015: As of April 2015, the community is resisting provincial plans for large-scale industrial clearcutting within its traditional territory. Community members deal with the long-term consequences of mercury poisoning while advocating for the protection of their local waters. The community is located within the Treaty 3 area near Kenora.
• June 2016: Community members travelled to Toronto in June 2016 to demand government action on mercury contamination in their local water system. The community has been impacted by toxic waste dumped into the Wabigoon River by a pulp and paper mill during the 1960s. Leadership and youth from the nation are advocating for the cessation of industrial logging in their traditional territory.
• June 2016: The community participated in a study by Human Rights Watch regarding the impact of unsafe water on human rights. Research for the report included documentation of the water crisis within the community.
• July 2016: Residents suffer from mercury poisoning after 9,000 kilograms of toxic waste was dumped into their waterway over 50 years ago. Supporters delivered petitions from over 35,000 people to Queen's Park on July 7, 2016, demanding a cleanup of the poisoned water system. A scientific report by three renowned scientists indicated that the mercury in the community's watershed can be cleaned to make fish safe for consumption.
• October 2017: The community has dealt with the effects of mercury poisoning for more than 60 years. The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario highlighted the community as an example of provincial neglect regarding pollution.
• November 2017: Community members have experienced decades of mercury poisoning due to industrial contamination of their local waterways. The community is seeking the construction of a "mercury home" to provide local care for those suffering from the effects of mercury. Activists from the community have advocated for a cleanup fund, though they report that the Ontario government has delayed the actual remediation.
• March 2019: This community is the home of actor and playwright Meegwun Fairbrother.
• September 2019: Lee Maracle cited the community's decades-long battle with mercury poisoning as an example of how little change has occurred in government interaction with Indigenous people.
• October 2019: The federal government was criticized for failing to construct a treatment centre for victims of mercury poisoning in this community.
• July 2022: The community has suffered from high levels of mercury poisoning in their waterways for over 60 years. As of July 2022, 90 per cent of the population exhibits symptoms of mercury poisoning, such as tremors and anxiety. The nation demands an end to unauthorized mining and logging on their traditional territory by multi-national corporations.
• June 2023: First Assist visited the community to provide youth programming. Some youth in the community experienced fishing for the first time through outdoor initiatives.
• January 2025: The community is the original home of Rene French, who performed as a lead singer at a round dance in Fort William First Nation.
• June 2025: The community is cited as an example of the consequences of industrial development without consent due to mercury poisoning. The ongoing impacts on families in this community serve as a warning against the deregulation proposed in Bill 5: The Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act.
• July 2025: Citizens from the community traveled to Thunder Bay to join a rally against a proposed nuclear waste site near Ignace. Members of the community highlighted their history of environmental harm as a reason for opposing new dangerous projects.
• November 2025: Chief Rudy Turtle stated that contamination and pollution affecting the area date back to 1962.
• June 2026: The community is concerned that a proposed nuclear waste site is located upstream from their territory. The nation has lived with mercury pollution in the English-Wabigoon river system for decades.