ASUBPEESCHOSEEWAGONG — After years of lobbying and meetings with federal officials by a First Nation in Northwestern Ontario, as well as promises by Ottawa, construction is beginning on a specialized medical care facility for victims of mercury poisoning in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek.
Members of the community, also known as Grassy Narrows, have suffered the effects of mercury since former owners of the mill in Dryden dumped effluent containing the toxic element from a chlor-alkali plant on the mill property into the English-Wabigoon River system upstream from the First Nation in the 1960s and early 1970s.
"At last, my people will have access to dignified care for the terrible impacts of mercury on our health,” Asubpeeschoseewagong Chief Sherry Ackabee was quoted as saying in a Wednesday afternoon press release issued by Indigenous Services Canada.
“I honour the past leaders, as well as the many grassroots people, who persevered for so long to make this dream come true. Canada has promised Grassy Narrows that it will be there as a partner to make sure that our community members can come home and receive the quality care they need.”
At Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu reaffirmed federal funding of $82 million for the facility’s construction. Ottawa also again committed an additional $68.9 million in a trust for the next 30 years to lock it in for the operation of the care home and wellness centre.
The trust is intended to guard the money against potential future changes in government budgeting — an agreement that community leadership had pushed for.
"Water is life. It is essential for health, prosperity, and community well-being,” Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu was quoted as saying. “But for decades, the community of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek was denied access to clean water by the inaction of successive federal and provincial governments.”
Former Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott first committed to building a care home in 2017.
The community-led project will see it provide primary and long-term care for members of Asubpeeschoseewagong. According to a release from Indigenous Services Canada, the facility will provide holistic care, treatment and other services like assisted living supports, rehabilitation, traditional healing and other culturally-appropriate activities and help.
It is expected to be about 70,000 square feet in size.
A 2018 independent community health assessment commissioned by Asubpeeschoseewagong leadership further showed the need for a care home and led to the establishment of a working group, according to Indigenous Services Canada’s release. That group then developed a service plan outlining the services the facility would provide, based on the 2018 study.
“I honour Minister Hajdu for reaching this historic milestone towards Canada keeping its sacred promise to Grassy Narrows,” Ackabee was quoted as saying.
“In the same breath, I call on Canada to take quick action to compensate our people fairly for the ongoing mercury crisis, and to end industrial threats to our land, water and people.”
