How a Pandemic Changed Akwesasne

By: Jaclyn Hall

It seems as though the majority of Akwesasronon are getting back to the land, with the encouragement of multiple organizations who have been distributing free seeds, saplings, seedlings and supplies to create raised bed gardens. While it has become commonplace to see raised bed gardens all throughout Akwesasne, it seems as though many have forgotten why raised beds became a necessity in Akwesasne, and why it is an important part of our history.

It was not so long ago when our Totas could sustain themselves completely off the land here in Akwesasne. There was a time our Totas could fish in the river, hunt on the land and grow food without worrying about the impact these locally caught and grown foods could have on the people and the future generations. That time has long passed, or has it?

With multiple environmental genocides having taken place in Akwesasne in the past 120 years, our people have had to continuously adapt and innovate to continue to live off the land. Throughout all of the change and impacts felt by our people, our resilience as Onkwehonwe people and adherence to our original teachings have persevered.

"Heavy industry has existed near Akwesasne since the early years of the twentieth century. The Aluminum Company of America, the area's first large-scale industrial plant, opened in Massena eight miles west of Akwesasne, during 1903. The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 caused large scale industrialization and attendant pollution on or near Akwesasne.

Reynolds Metals built an aluminum reduction plant less than a mile from Akwesasne the same year the Seaway opened; by 1962, cattle on Cornwall Island were dying of fluoride poisoning. The effects of pollution at Akwesasne are evidenced by a decline in the number of people earning a living as farmers and fisherman in the area. In 1930, Akwesasne was the site of a 129 commercial farms; in 1990 the figure was 19, according to figures obtained by Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. The estimated number of fishermen declined from 104 to 11 during the same period." says an excerpt from the Encyclopedia of the Haudenosaunee.

Surely these statistics have changed since this excerpt was written, with the efforts of projects and organizations such as Ase Tsi Tewa:ton, Akwesasne Cultural Center, Three Sisters Sovereignty Project, Onkwe, Thompson Island, Women's Wisdom Circle and individual knowledge keepers hosting workshops aimed at teaching Akwesasronon food sovereignty and self-sufficiency.

Many have gone forward with learning and getting back to the land. With all of the newfound knowledge comes a newfound responsibility to take it a step farther by being a caretaker of the land, but to also be a land defender. Caretaking takes on a whole different realm than defending land, but both are equally important during these times; especially when we find ourselves coming back to the land to sustain ourselves and families.

With the travel restrictions put in place during this pandemic, many feel as if they have no choice but to hunt, gather and garden within this 50-mile radius; but is it really the best thing for our people? We have to weigh the pros and cons of remaining within an area 24/7 that is ultimately making our people sick, although it does not come in the form of a cold or Coronavirus for that matter; the deep rooted disease that has been continuously passed on, unknowingly, to our future generations has repercussions that are long lasting. Many people believe because they drink bottled water, purchase food grown elsewhere, and garden in raised beds, they are not as affected by this deep-rooted disease given to us from industry.

Sorry to remind people, but the water we use, the air we breathe and the land we live on makeup who we are; We are only as healthy as the land we call home, and our future generations health depends on the us. Heavy metals such as PCB's only leave our bodies through breast milk or semen; so, the only way we can rid ourselves of this poison is by passing it on to our children.

Many Akwesasronon are aware of the Grasse River Clean-up taking place as we speak. The dredging of the Grasse River is stirring up sediments of the past and unleashing the same poisons that made living beings sick in the past. Representatives of these industries assure us they are going about it as safely as possible and there is a low risk of exposure to Akwesasronon. There is still a risk, that government and industry deem low, is still very present.

For example, one of EPA's most recent announcements regarding the Grasse River Cleanup, made on April 15th, 2020 states, "The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has modified a plan to address sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) at the Grasse River Superfund Site in Massena, N.Y."

"The EPA continues to listen closely and respond to the needs of this community as a priority, and we are working hard with our state and tribal partners to advance the cleanup of this critically important river system,' said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. The modification to the plan will provide for the removal of more sediment and will ensure that the new tugboat can operate efficiently and effectively, all while remaining on track with the project."

A change in plans for the Grasse River Cleanup, includes dredging and removing an extra 90,000 cubic tons only .3 miles away from the St. Lawrence River and scarily close to the water treatment plant on Kawehno:ke. When the EPA makes these plans, it does not include the "Canadian" side of the border, or how it could affect the north side of the river. The previous Grasse River Information session in Akwesasne was cancelled. This extra dredging and removal to accommodate a bigger tugboat could have very well went unnoticed, due to this pandemic. These plans to dig up and change our rivers for the convenience of a project is only a miniature version of what took place during the constructions of the Seaway. There was clearly impacts on our people when the Seaway was built, so one could only guess what the impacts will be from this invasive project.

Going into this year's gardening and gathering season, we must be aware of the different risks and impacts that it may have on our people, the closer we are to these industrial sites. While well-meaning knowledge keepers suggest locations to gather and hunt that are within the suggested 50 mile radius, it is our responsibility to remind the people of our land's living history and continue to pass on this knowledge so long as our lands and waters are sick. Stay vigilant and research information for yourself during this pandemic, especially when it comes to our land and water.

To have a healthy relationship with our Mother Earth, we must reconcile with her and help her to heal. How can we do that, while at the same depending on her for nourishment?