TEK ELDERS PLANNING WATER SAMPLING THIS SUMMER
Photo: Midnorth Monitor
With a $50,000 grant recently approved from Environment Canada, the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) group will commence water sampling this summer in areas of concern from Batchawana First Nation to Sagamok Anishnawbek along the North Shore.
According to Raymond Owl, a Sagamok elder and a founder of the group, “the water sampling (and resulting tests) will help substantiate the elders’ claims and efforts to put a stop to aerial spraying.”
Owl believes the Spanish River basin is at the top of the list for areas of concern.
TEK Elders from all First Nations along the Highway 17 corridor attended two meetings over the last month to discuss sampling plans in their efforts to put a stop to contaminants in the water, and, the aerial spraying of glyphosate in northern forests.
With the recent grant, the TEK group is looking at ways of doing independent sampling and testing of water in their areas including rivers, lakes and streams. Health Canada’s mandatory ten-year re-evaluation began last year on the safety of gylphosate, a herbicide used in aerial spraying and classified by the World Health Organization as probably a carcinogenic to humans. As of press time, no decision has been reached by Health Canada.
A written request for a meeting with Health Canada and TEK made early in 2015 is still in the works according to the Elders. Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes informed Raymond Owl on April 6 this year, their meeting request is in the hands of the new health minister. Both Hughes and Owl believe a response to be forthcoming.
In addition to the meeting request, TEK claims legitimacy in that they possess a “scientific knowledge based on traditional ecology,” TEK maintains treaty rights recognized and affirmed in section 35 (1) of the constitution giving First Nations the rights to water, to hunt, fish and gather berries and plant medicines in traditional territories are being violated. Elders assert “the use of aerial spraying of glyphosate and the damage it causes to plants, water and animals not only infringes on these rights, but is a clear violation of the constitution.”
At a March 10 meeting at Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) a presentation by Dr. Carli Lang, an environmental scientist from the non-profit group Tin Roof Global gave the TEK group detailed information about the health and environmental effects of different chemicals that might be in the water. Lang outlined the sampling process explaining the importance of choosing sampling appropriate to each area.
With information from Lang, Elders split into groups and studied aerial maps of all areas to determine possible sources of contaminants as well as suspected toxins in the water. With their discerning knowledge of each area, the Elders were able to identify specific regions where testing should take place. Areas of concern in the Great Lakes Basin were identified and noted from maps.
Elders state in their mission statement, “We have a right to clean air, water, soil and forests. We need to respect and protect this beautiful land and all of its amazing plant and animal life. We have a voice and need to be heard. Let’s speak up and stand together.”
Health Canada is insistent that scientific evidence be submitted by any concerned parties for consideration when doing the re-evaluation. The Elders insist their traditional ecological knowledge be considered scientific evidence. Once the proposed sampling and testing is completed, along with traditional scientific knowledge, TEK is confident meaningful steps will be taken by both governments to address their concerns.
At a follow up meeting on April 6 in SRFN, meeting coordinator Sue Chiblow from Mississauga First Nation, said the next steps are to arrange for Tin Roof Global to train youth and Elders in the sampling process, to brief all chiefs and councils on their efforts and gain their support. It is expected that sampling will begin this summer with three or four samples coming from each community, according to Chiblow. Once that is done, all data will be submitted to government.
According to Raymond Owl, a Sagamok elder and a founder of the group, “the water sampling (and resulting tests) will help substantiate the elders’ claims and efforts to put a stop to aerial spraying.”
Owl believes the Spanish River basin is at the top of the list for areas of concern.
TEK Elders from all First Nations along the Highway 17 corridor attended two meetings over the last month to discuss sampling plans in their efforts to put a stop to contaminants in the water, and, the aerial spraying of glyphosate in northern forests.
With the recent grant, the TEK group is looking at ways of doing independent sampling and testing of water in their areas including rivers, lakes and streams. Health Canada’s mandatory ten-year re-evaluation began last year on the safety of gylphosate, a herbicide used in aerial spraying and classified by the World Health Organization as probably a carcinogenic to humans. As of press time, no decision has been reached by Health Canada.
A written request for a meeting with Health Canada and TEK made early in 2015 is still in the works according to the Elders. Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes informed Raymond Owl on April 6 this year, their meeting request is in the hands of the new health minister. Both Hughes and Owl believe a response to be forthcoming.
In addition to the meeting request, TEK claims legitimacy in that they possess a “scientific knowledge based on traditional ecology,” TEK maintains treaty rights recognized and affirmed in section 35 (1) of the constitution giving First Nations the rights to water, to hunt, fish and gather berries and plant medicines in traditional territories are being violated. Elders assert “the use of aerial spraying of glyphosate and the damage it causes to plants, water and animals not only infringes on these rights, but is a clear violation of the constitution.”
At a March 10 meeting at Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) a presentation by Dr. Carli Lang, an environmental scientist from the non-profit group Tin Roof Global gave the TEK group detailed information about the health and environmental effects of different chemicals that might be in the water. Lang outlined the sampling process explaining the importance of choosing sampling appropriate to each area.
With information from Lang, Elders split into groups and studied aerial maps of all areas to determine possible sources of contaminants as well as suspected toxins in the water. With their discerning knowledge of each area, the Elders were able to identify specific regions where testing should take place. Areas of concern in the Great Lakes Basin were identified and noted from maps.
Elders state in their mission statement, “We have a right to clean air, water, soil and forests. We need to respect and protect this beautiful land and all of its amazing plant and animal life. We have a voice and need to be heard. Let’s speak up and stand together.”
Health Canada is insistent that scientific evidence be submitted by any concerned parties for consideration when doing the re-evaluation. The Elders insist their traditional ecological knowledge be considered scientific evidence. Once the proposed sampling and testing is completed, along with traditional scientific knowledge, TEK is confident meaningful steps will be taken by both governments to address their concerns.
At a follow up meeting on April 6 in SRFN, meeting coordinator Sue Chiblow from Mississauga First Nation, said the next steps are to arrange for Tin Roof Global to train youth and Elders in the sampling process, to brief all chiefs and councils on their efforts and gain their support. It is expected that sampling will begin this summer with three or four samples coming from each community, according to Chiblow. Once that is done, all data will be submitted to government.
