Polluted Waters: Ontario Premier giving poison to the babies from Northern Ontario

www.mediacoop.ca/story/3218

The communities affected by the poisoning include Wabauskang (formerly associated with Quibell), Asubpeeschoseewagong (commonly known as Grassy Narrows) and Wabeseemoong (commonly known as White Dog).

A march of over 250 people from Grange Park to the steps of the Ontario Legislature, in a cascade of giant 30 foot banners in different shades of blue.

The march was led by four women from Grassy Narrows and Wabauskang, who were being pushed in wheelchairs, including Betty Riffel.

This is what killed us"; said Betty Riffel, as she held up a bottle of water in her quivering hand. “My hand, it shakes, thats from the water from the Wabigoon River”

Wabigoon River has been poisoned by mercury from a paper mill for over 60 years.  In 1970 this poisoning was acknowledged by the Ontario Government when they banned fishing in the river.

“In the 30's when the water was contaminated, our people started dying left and right especially the babies. I can count eleven babies that died. The mothers fed the babies canned milk mixed with water from the rivers. So what they were doing was giving the babies poison.”

...the health impacts of mercury are even worse today than in the 1970's.