On October 16, supporters of the Grassy Narrows First Nation will travel from Winnipeg and elsewhere to protest at the Grassy Narrows blockade. It is the longest (and consistently peaceful) blockade in Canada. It’s at Slant Lake, five kilometres north of the reserve.

The blockade is quiet — three teepees, seven small cabins and a few tents. The issues at stake — paper giant Abitibi and other companies are clear-cutting lands where the Grassy Narrows First Nation believes it has aboriginal title — are huge. But here, it’s like a camp-out where protesters gather to play volleyball or talk.

Life has been tumultuous in Grassy Narrows First Nation since the 1950s. The Ojibway Nation, located in northwestern Ontario has suffered decades of abuse. Relocation for hydro flooding, mercury poisoning, adopting out and, most recently, struggles over clearcutting have greatly harmed the community.

In late summer, the Canadian government had finally agreed to discuss the disputed Whiskey Jack Forest (though residents suspect the sudden turnaround had something to do with the impending federal election). Even Abitibi had come to the table, albeit simply to say it had tried.

Then another terrible chain of events began on August 12. Dr. Masazumi Harada, the Japanese researcher who first identified Grassyâe(TM)s problems in the 1970s, revealed that symptoms of mercury poisoning have greatly increased, especially in children.

Harada made recommendations concerning compensation for mercury poisoning in Canada. Currently toxicity levels, instead of presence of symptoms, are used to determine poisoning in this country. Harada believes this is an inaccurate form of measurement, as disorders such as alcoholism can lead to “false positives” in toxicity tests. His research states that only symptoms can accurately reveal Minimata Disease, a life-threatening neurological condition.

Many Grassy residents show less toxicity than in the past, but have increased symptoms. Out of 60 people examined, 42 showed evidence of neurological disorders, including tremors, lack of motor control, and seizures.

“The study shows that mercury is here to stay,” deputy chief Steve Fobister said.

The bad news continued. On August 18, the deputy chief’s daughter, her newborn baby, and two others were involved in a head-on crash with the Ontario Provincial Police. Lynda McDonald and Alana Pahpasay were seriously injured. The OPP officer was driving on the wrong side of the road, passing in a no-passing zone, according to Steve Fobister. The officer was uninjured. The Special Investigations Unit was called in from Toronto.

John A. Sutherland, director of the SIU, concluded on September 30 that the officer was not responsible for the accident. However, he made the following statement: “In all of the circumstances, the manner of his driving does not meet the legal criteria of criminal negligence or dangerous driving. But clearly the officer caused the collision by attempting to overtake when it was not safe to do so.”

Then on August 29, a youth who had allegedly escaped from a detention centre in Winnipeg arrived in Grassy. According to the SIU, Geronimo Fobister was armed, and ended up in a stand-off with OPP and other officers at 3:11 p.m. Police said they cornered Geronimo on a trail and called in a negotiator. After an hour and a half, two shots were fired. The youth, 17, was air-lifted out and pronounced dead in nearby Kenora. According to locals, he had been shot in the head. The officers were uninjured.

Earlier in the day, the youth had allegedly been involved, along with John Hyacithe, 20, in an altercation with a third man. Hyacithe has been charged with attempted murder.

Local youth wonder why no one from the community was asked to try to talk the teenager down. Fobister was said to have been distraught about his mother’s recent death. Questions also abound as to why he was not apprehended or injured, as opposed to mortally shot.

The Special Investigations Unit was again summoned. Chief Simon Fobister said, “There is always some concern about how police handle (situations).”

Results of the investigation are still pending.

Despite their grief, the community continues to struggle on. In a September 11 meeting with Abitibi Consolidated, chief and council told the multi-million dollar corporation that the blockade will remain until all clearcutting ends. Steve Fobister said Abitibi offered no more than the suggestion that Grassy could capitalize on the financial benefits of the paper industry.

As the blockade entered its tenth month, members attended the World Forest Conference in Quebec City, and effectively shut down Abitibi’s press conference. Fobister said he has no qualms about informing Abitibi’s customers of the continued deforestation of disputed First Nations territories.

On August 5, the nearby reserve of White Dog First Nation began its own blockade, complete with toll booth. Grassy Narrows citizens fully support the new blockade. The people of White Dog were also poisoned by the Reed Paper Company’s mercury dumping in the 1960s, and continue to suffer the consequences of living near the English-Wabigoon River System. There are three other reserves on the same river.

Winter is fast approaching, and blockaders at both White Dog and Grassy Narrows are prepared to brave temperatures of minus 30 degrees. After the pain of recent events, cold seems like little to overcome.