July 6, 2026 - Clean water is food justice
In solidarity with Grassy Narrows First Nations
FoodShare stands with Grassy Narrows in their demands that the provincial and federal governments:
Context
The devastating mercury crisis in Grassy Narrows First Nation has persisted for decades, ever since 9 tonnes of mercury was dumped upstream in the 1960s, with little action from governments to help the people. To this day, Grassy Narrows people do not get fair compensation for the serious impacts of the ongoing mercury crisis on their health, culture, and livelihoods.
- Between 1962 and 1970, the Dryden Chemicals pulp and paper mill upstream leaked 9000 kilograms of mercury into the river system of Grassy Narrows, an Anishinaabe community in Northern Ontario.
- There is ongoing mercury poisoning in the water at Grassy Narrows, from Weyerhauser logging company’s clear-cutting and dumping of cancer-causing toxic waste.
- Fish from this river system was previously the community’s main source of food. As a result of contamination, the fish contains extremely high levels of mercury from toxic dumping.
- Mercury poisoning has severe impacts – including increased cases of brain cancer, and a suicide rate three times higher than other communities.
To make matters worse, Ontario is still allowing the Dryden mill to make the mercury problem worse through ongoing pollution in its effluent. Meanwhile, proposals for new mines and a nuclear waste disposal site upstream threaten to make things worse.
Grassy people are powerful leaders in the movement for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice. They have shown us that we can fight for justice against all odds and make real gains. They have successfully kicked the world’s largest newsprint company off of Grassy Narrows lands, secured a historic ban on logging on their territory for the next 10 years, and forced the government to commit to clean up the English and Wabigoon Rivers, comprehensively reform the Mercury Disability Board, and build a Mercury Care Home and Treatment Center in Grassy Narrows. They have the longest-running blockade in Canadian history, which has helped foster Indigenous resistance across Turtle Island and saved 15 million trees from being cut.
But so much is still needed to right the wrong of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows and to support their continuing fight to protect their land and waters.
Take Action
All of us can take action to support the land and water defenders of Grassy Narrows.
Get informed
WATCH- Learn about the longstanding fight for justice in Grassy Narrows
LISTEN- Hear from Grassy elder Judy Da Silva on our podcast Dignity and Joy
ACT NOW- Take the latest actions in solidarity with Grassy at www.freegrassy.net
