Living History Forum
Grassy Narrows Living History Forum
Chaired by Darrel Manitowabi
Between 1962 and 1970, in a terrible and deeply racist case of environmental injustice, a pulp mill in Northwest Ontario discharged ten tonnes of mercury into the Wabigoon River, upstream from the First Nations community of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows). The mercury destroyed the economy, the food security, and the health of the people at Grassy Narrows.
Health justice has been slow in coming to the Grassy Narrows community. Provincial and federal governments have consistently ignored or downplayed the catastrophic impacts of the mercury contamination. Remediation has moved with glacial speed, and the mill owners have never been fully called to account.
Now you can hear the story of Grassy Narrows from Judy Da Silva and Donna Mergler, two powerful changemakers on this issue, followed by a reflection from Chantelle Richmond.
JOIN US ON FRIDAY 22 MAY FROM 3:30-4:30 PM EDT / 2:30-3:30 PM CDT AT GRASSY NARROWS
Webex meeting link: https://nosm.webex.com/nosm/j.php?MTID=m73ac63be6cd37ff9ea6fafec02acbae0
The intent of the CSHM Living History Forum is to bring together individuals who have lived through and shaped a significant event in health history, so we can hear and learn from their shared memories. This event is co-hosted by the Grassy Narrows First Nation (Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation), Canadian Society for the History of Medicine, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University. Thank you to AMS Healthcare for their generous funding which has made the Grassy Narrows event possible.
Meet the Speakers
Judy Da Silva is a Grassy Narrows community member who looks to her five children for energy to continue seeking justice and a solution to the mercury poisoning of their river system in Grassy Narrows. Her lifelong advocacy work for her community and commitment to peaceful, nonviolent direct action has been acknowledged with the prestigious Michael Sattler Peace Prize in 2013 (Germany), a 2019 an honorary doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University, and the 2018 Art Manuel environmental award from Toronto Metropolitan University. Judy suffers from the effects of mercury poisoning. She works in the band office of her community as environmental health coordinator.
Donna Mergler is Professor Emerita at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Department of Biological Sciences. A member of the Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Health in Canada, she studied the health impacts of mercury from fish consumption in Brazil, Quebec, and now with Grassy Narrows First Nation. At Grassy Narrows, she chaired the Expert Panel to Reform the Mercury Disability Board and co-chaired the Detailed Services Plan team for the Paapiiwaaniimaan Mercury Care Home. She has won many honours and awards for her research, mostly as Radio-Canada Scientist of the Year.
Chantelle Richmond is an Anishinaabe scholar and Professor of Geography and Environment at Western University, where she holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health and the Environment, examining relationships between Indigenous peoples, land, and health, with a particular focus on environmental dispossession and repossession. Working with Katie Big-Canoe, she developed the theory of environmental repossession. She is the author of Because this Land is who we are: Indigenous practices of Environmental Repossession and works in partnership with the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre and Native Women Run. Chantelle was a member of the Expert Panel to reform the Mercury Disability Board and was also a member of the Detailed Services Planning Team for the Grassy Narrows Mercury Care Home.
CME/CPD ACCREDITATION
The Grassy Narrows Living History Forum meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by the Continuing Education and Professional Development Office at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University for up to 1.0 Mainpro+® Certified Activity Credits. For more information, contact Darrel Manitowabi (dmanitowabi@nosm.ca).
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Describe and demonstrate their knowledge of the history of mercury poisoning related to health and Indigenous peoples.
2. Discuss and develop a wider critical perspective on the history of the human impacts of natural resource development that can help inform their perspectives on issues related to practice and relevant public debates.