Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (also known as Grassy Narrows First Nation or the the Asabiinyashkosiwagong Nitam-Anishinaabeg in the Anishinaabe language) is an Ojibwa First Nation located 80km north of Kenora, Ontario. Their landbase is the 4145 ha English River 21 Indian Reserve. It has a registered population of 1,292 as of September 2007, of which their on-reserve population was 790. They are a signatory to Treaty 3.

Contents 1 Governance 2 Mercury contamination 3 References 4 External links 4.1 Logging 4.2 Other

[edit] Governance

The First Nation is headed by Chief Simon Fobister and 4 Councillors: Bill Fobister Sr., Rudy Turtle, Randy Fobister and Barbara Skead The First Nation is a member of the Bimose Tribal Council, a regional non-political Chief's Council, who is a member of the Grand Council of Treaty 3, a Political Organization.

[edit] Mercury contamination

Main article: Ontario_Minamata_disease#Grassy Narrows and Whitedog First Nations

The First Nation experienced mercury poisoning from Dryden Chemical Company, a chloralkali process plant, located in Dryden, Ontario that supplied both sodium hydroxide and chlorine used in large amounts for bleaching paper during production for the Dryden Pulp and Paper Company. Dryden Chemical company discharged their effluent into the Wabigoon-English River system.

The Ontario provincial government has initially told the First Nation communities to stop eating fish — their main source of protein — and closed down their commercial fishery. In 90%+ unemployment rate in 1970, closing of the commercial fishery meant economic disaster for the Indian Reserve.

Grassy Narrows First Nation received a settlement in 1985 from the Canadian government and the Reed Paper Company that bought-out the Dryden Pulp and Paper Company and its sister-company Dryden Chemical Company, but the mercury was never removed from the water.

On September 8, 2007, Ontario announced that it had agreed to begin discussions with Grassy Narrows First Nation on forestry-related issues. The provincial government appointed former Federal Court of Canada Chief Justice Frank Iacobucci to lead these discussions. Iacobucci's discussions with Grassy Narrows will focus on, "sustainable forest management partnership models and other forestry-related matters, including harvesting methods, interim protection for traditional activities and economic development."^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Logging

• Free Grassy Narrows - anti-logging campaign of the Rainforest Action Network
• Open Letter to Weyerhaeuser and Abitibi, February 2006
• "Ontario Enters into Forestry Discussions with Grassy Narrows", Government of Ontario news release, 2007-09-08

[edit] Other

• INAC profile
• Passing Ojibway Lifeways in a Contemporary Environment
• Amnesty International Canada: Rights ignored at Grassy Narrows
• Photos

v • d • e The Numbered Treaties · Treaty Three Numbered Treaties Treaty 1 · Treaty 2 · Treaty 3 · Treaty 4 · Treaty 5 · Treaty 6 · Treaty 7 · Treaty 8 · Treaty 9 · Treaty 10 · Treaty 11 Anishinabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council Big Grassy · Naongashiing (Big Island) · Northwest Angle 33 · Northwest Angle 37 · Onigaming · Wauzhushk Onigum Bimose Tribal Council Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) · Eagle Lake · Iskatewizaagegan 39 · Lac Des Mille Lacs · Naotkamegwanning (Whitefish Bay) · Obashkaandagaang Bay · Shoal Lake 40 · Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) · Wabauskang · Wabigoon Lake Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services Couchiching · Lac La Croix · Naicatchewenin · Nicickousemenecaning · Rainy River · Seine River · Stanjikoming Other Treaty 3 Nations Buffalo Point · Lac Seul · Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining · Saugeen

v • d • e Grand Council of Treaty 3 Anishinabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council Big Grassy • Naongashiing (Big Island) • Northwest Angle 33 • Northwest Angle 37 • Onigaming • Wauzhushk Onigum Bimose Tribal Council Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) • Eagle Lake • Iskatewizaagegan 39 • Lac Des Mille Lacs • Naotkamegwanning (Whitefish Bay) • Obashkaandagaang Bay • Shoal Lake 40 • Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) • Wabauskang • Wabigoon Lake Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services Couchiching • Lac La Croix • Naicatchewenin • Nicickousemenecaning • Rainy River • Seine River • Stanjikoming non-member Treaty 3 First Nations Buffalo Point • Lac Seul • Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining • Sagkeeng (Fort Alexander) • Saugeen

Coordinates: 50°10′59″N, 94°02′13″W