Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Grassy Narrows Protest at Queen's Park


Hundreds of demonstrators converged on the lawn of the Ontario legislature this afternoon, calling for action over mercury poisoning on the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Members of the reserve north of Kenora, marched through the streets of Toronto carrying pieces of blue fabric to form a symbolic wild river and holding up paper fish on sticks.

Almost two dozen police officers on bicycles escorted the demonstrators to the legislature, where the protesters held banners reading ``Clean Water, Our Survival'' and ``Native Rights Now''.

A study out yesterday says residents of the reserve are still suffering health effects from mercury that was dumped into the Wabigoon River three decades ago.

Residents say babies are being born with health defects that they blame on the contamination.