AN OPEN LEITER TO THE COMMUNITY

AN OPEN LEITER TO THE

COMMUNITY

She:kon Sewakwe:kon,

When you awaken each morning to greet the day, be thankful.

There are a few people in our community who can tell you that they drank: water from the river while they played or fished in the times when they were young. I’m sure most of us know this to be true.

However, most of us know that during our lifetime, poison entered the river through the industry that was developed all around us. What an insult. How dare they? (GM, Reynolds Metals, ALCOA, Courtaulds, Domtar). Thanks to them, our fish were sick or disappearing and even if you caught fish, if you were a woman of child-bearing age or a person aged sixteen years or younger, it was recommended that you did not eat the fish. We stopped farming since our cattle became sick and we couldn’t even eat the food we grew because of the fluoride poisoning.

Our community wasn’t going to accept that the industries owners could do what they wanted. The people of Akwesasne organized and the leaders carried the message that the industries had to be held accountable for the damage they caused and they had to clean up. Industry was made to adhere to greater emission controls and our community would benefit from a healthier environment because of this action taken. Now we can return to the land, grow our foods and at least occasionally, eat fish again.

We, as Onkwehonwe, know that we were charged with the responsibility to protect and give thanks for all life from the Earth to the Sky and everything in between. I’m sorry to say that our own people are acting irresponsibly. The wetlands and marshlands that are vital to the health of our rivers and wildlife are being destroyed, not by outside industry but by individuals-who, for one reason or another, seem not to value the environment we live in.

If you or someone you know is filling in marshlands and wetlands, this practice has to stop. Not only are you destroying nesting areas, spawning beds and wildlife that depend on this environment for survival, you are poisoning the waters. All life, including your children’s, depends on the safe water for survival.

Year after year, the marsh in Tsisnaihne is set on fire. Please consider that the health and safety of the people who suffer from asthma or other respiratory ailments and whose property is adjacent to the marshland, is in danger. It is difficult enough for people to breathe smoke filled air but just think of what the elders and children have to endure and, .. this difficulty is compounded if they suffer from asthma.

Please refrain from burning rubbish and using burn barrels. We are fortunate to leave our garbage hauled away to a disposal site off our territory at no cost. On May 11,2009, a pile of building debris was set on fire in the area of Wade Lafrance Memorial Road. This action was cause for great concern. While the Fire Department acted to extinguish the fire, they were concerned that the ash and soot would flow toward the marsh and bring damage to the habitat. The other greater concern is that near by residents were breathing the smoke from the burning material, which includes burning vinyl siding and other plastics and shingles, emitting dangerous fumes.

If you are planning to develop your property in the areas that include the wetlands, please contact the Department of the Environment. The Environmental Assessment Officer will attend your site so that the best land management practices will be utilized. They will ensure that there are no protected species; Yellow Spotted Turtle, Black Terns or Least Bitterns in the area. The EA Officer will also look at the vegetation for medicinal plants and other protected plant species. The EA Officer will assist you in ensuring future generations will enjoy a safe, healthy and beautiful environment that they can be truly thankful for.

If you have any concerns in regards to any issues that are included in this letter, please contact Elizabeth Nanticoke, Acting Director for the Department of the Environment or Richard David, Assistant Director. If you’re planning a project that may include development of the land, please contact one of our Environmental Assessment Officers, Peggy Pyke- Thompson or Scott Peters. Henry Lickers, Science Officer, could give you information on contaminants and the effects to human health.

The Department of the Environment is located at the Cornwall Island Administration Building #3 (old Lacrosse Factory). We maybe reached by calling (613) 9361548.

Nia:wen,

Elizabeth Nanticoke, Acting Director

Department of the Environment

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