The federal government is once again being asked to honour a promise to build a mercury care home for Grassy Narrows First Nation.
Officials stress their community continues to suffer from the effects caused by industrial dumping of mercury in its waterways during the 1960’s.
At the Assembly of First Nations Conference in Ottawa, Indigenous leaders took to the podium to demand immediate action.
Ronald (RJ) Bruce is a young member of the community and he stressed it’s upsetting to watch and witness the older generations go through this.
“Something you don’t want to see anyone go through. Just the struggles that they go through. It does upset me because their health and the fact they have the possibility of a shorter life span.”
Bruce stresses he will continue to fight and speak for the struggles that they are going through.
“For generations our community has struggled with mercury poisoning and I’m here to say that there has been an opportunity to build a mercury home. Why is it taking so long? Why do we have to wait for something that could be so simple and that could help our people.”
Bruce says”It kind of makes my voice shake. It’s upsetting. We have been fighting for this for generations and people continue to get sicker. Why the hold up? Why aren’t they doing this?”
He notes the lack of action is impacting their daily way of life.
Grassy Narrows says former Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott promised them a mercury care home back in 2017.
