Caravan from Grassy Narrows First Nation makes stops to educate about mercury poisoning ahead of Toronto rally

Warning: This story contains references to suicide.

Annie Sneaky says the loss of her two sisters to suicide is what drives her to defend the lands and waters of Grassy Narrows First Nation.

"My twin sister and I did a lot of this work since losing our younger sister in 2016. She was only 11 years old," said Sneaky.

"Last year, July 2023, I lost my twin sister to suicide, so that's two sisters I've lost, and I know that it shouldn't be this way and I should have never lost them."

Sneaky is part of a caravan of more than a dozen people travelling from northwestern Ontario to Toronto to raise awareness about the impact of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows, also known as Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek. They'll be picking up more people, including a busload of 50 others, along the way.

Mercury contamination on Grassy Narrows dates back to the 1960s and '70s, when the Dryden Paper Mill dumped about nine tonnes of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River system. Recent research out of the University of Western Ontario suggests the contamination is being made worse by ongoing industrial pollution from the mill.

Last summer, a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found youth from Grassy Narrows are three times more likely to attempt suicide than those from other First Nations in Canada.

"The poisoning has to do a lot with it, but a lot of young people don't know that and don't understand it," said Sneaky.

The caravan is expected to arrive in Toronto on Monday, and join supporters from across the province at an event Wednesday called River Run 2024: Walk with Grassy Narrows for Mercury Justice.

The rally starts at Grange Park and heads to Queen's Park. There, participants will call for compensation for everyone in Grassy Narrows who's been affected by mercury poisoning, and respect for the First Nation's Indigenous Protected Area — land where the community has banned development.

In June, Grassy Narrows filed a lawsuit in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice against the provincial and federal governments. The lawsuit argues the governments have violated their duties under Treaty 3 by failing to protect against or remedy the effects of mercury contamination in the English-Wabigoon River system.

Contamination 'robbed us of our way of life'

The caravan has already made stops in Dryden, Thunder Bay and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, also known as Pic River First Nation, to educate people about mercury contamination. In the coming days, it will also visit Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Six Nations before arriving in Toronto.

It's estimated 90 per cent of the Grassy Narrows population — just under 1,000 people — have symptoms of mercury poisoning. Symptoms can include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches, and cognitive and motor dysfunction.

"Arthritis is a big thing that I never used to have problems with and now it's creeping up on me," said Keiyanah Bird, a member of the caravan, who says her arthritis is linked to the community's mercury contamination. "I'm only in my mid-twenties, so that's concerning."

Chrissy Isaacs, lead organizer of the caravan, said she got involved in advocating about issues related to mercury poisoning to help protect her children, and now her grandchildren.

"We've had so many lives lost. We have a lot of sickness in our community, a lot of mental health issues, social issues, because mercury poisoning robbed us of our way of life," Isaacs said.

"I want to see everybody in my community compensated and I want to see the mill shut down."

Province, paper mill respond to concerns

CBC News reached out to Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford and asked if he would meet with members of the caravan in Toronto. A response was not received by publication time. CBC News also reached out to Dryden Fibre Canada, the owner of the Dryden Paper Mill, for comment on the caravan and community members' concerns, and was awaiting a response.

Meanwhile, the Grassy Narrows community is waiting for construction to begin on a Mercury Care Home. The First Nation's adviser confirmed to CBC News that the home has yet to break ground. There was hope the construction would start this summer.

A spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada told CBC News in May that the federal government has committed $77 million for the home's construction, which is anticipated to take two to three years, and $68.9 million for operations, maintenance and specialized service delivery.

"That was one of our demands, so that we could take care of our own people," Isaacs said of the care home.

As the caravan continues its journey, Sneaky carries a bright red flag featuring a warrior's face against a yellow sun. It's known as the Mohawk Warrior Flag or Unity Flag, and became a symbol of resistance during the Oka Crisis.

Her hope is she can advocate for better mental health support for youth in her community and remind them they're not alone.

"I feel it, being from Grassy — knowing that people from Grassy will never quite live a normal life because of the poisoning," said Sneaky. "I just want to make sure that nobody else feels this type of pain."

The Walk for Mercury Justice is among a series of events at River Run 2024 in Toronto from Sept. 16 to 18. Others include a community dinner, an art build and a creative rally.

Her advice to others is to take someone with them if they go to the ER — someone "who can advocate for them in the scenario that I was in, with no means left to fight for myself."

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. 

Help is available 24/7. Here are some resources:

• 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24/7.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
• Hope for Wellness Helpline for Indigenous peoples: 1-855-242-3310.
• Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366.
• Preventing suicide: Warning signs and how to help.