09/27/2026
On Wednesday, Environment Hamilton attended the FreeGrassy: Grassy Narrows Solidarity River Run protest in Toronto in solidarity with First Nations communities who are still being harmed by waterways contaminated by mercury.
In the 1960s, the Dryden pulp and paper mill operation dumped 10 tons of mercury into local waterways causing decades of harm to the health of downstream Indigenous communities, such as Grassy Narrows and White Dog First Nation. Mercury contaminates the water they drink and also accumulates in fish, which is a key food source for these communities.
Although the mill stopped dumping mercury into the water in 1970, provincial and federal governments have neglected to clean up the mercury pollution. At best, residents are offered small compensation while the pollution persists. Governments also initially downplayed the health risks of the mercury contamination. Many community members have lost their lives because of the toxic and neurological effects of mercury contamination.
In 2016, studies showed that 90% of Grassy Narrows members suffer from mercury poisoning. This includes younger residents. Mercury is passed from mothers to children. The Dryden mill also continues to worsen the situation due to its wastewater discharges, which contain organic matter and sulfates. A 2024 study showed that sulfates from the mill speed up the breakdown of mercury into methylmercury, which is a more potent environmental toxin. Worst of all, the concentration of mercury is greater closer to the mill, and so there are concerns of unknown leaks.
The provincial and federal governments need to shut down the mill, clean up the site, and compensate these communities for the decades of harm. It's shameful that this situation has been allowed to continue for so long.
In spite of all this, Grassy Narrows maintains a logging blockade on its territory that began in 2002. Indigenous communities are on the front lines of environmental protection efforts. It's essential to support them and learn from their experience.
