[IPSM] Grassy Narrows Update: Friday September 3rd

[Stefan Christoff]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2004 23:49:02 -0500
From: steve fobister <gsfobister at hotmail.com>


Ahneen Kakinna,  

This is the staement to the media by Chief Simon Fobister on Thursday
September 2, 2004 at Sheraton Hotel, Winnipeg Manitoba.

Good afternoon Friends and members of the media ladies anmd Gentlmen. I
was first elected chief back in 1976. At that time there was national and
international attention been given to the plight of my people as a result
of the mercury piosoning of our waters and the impacts this contamination
was having on our people. over the course of time, we were given
assurances by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario that
we would be treated fairly, and more importantantly, that our safety,
health and economic livlihood concerns would be met for our prresent and
futire generations. It was at that time Dr. Harada from Japan came to
Grassy and I am honoured to have him sit next to me today. He is too
humble to admit the fact that he has been internationally recognized and
honoured for his work on mercury piosoning. This is 3rd visit to our
community to thoroughly conduct examinations.

Now we are in 2004. to this day after 3 decades, our people are left with
all of the uncertainity and tratic impacts from the effects of eating fish
contaminated by mercury, directly caused by the forest companies with the
full knowlege and consent of the Government of Canada and Ontario. That
these tragic consequences should remain unresolved for ovewr 35 years is
surely a statement of fact. We are earnestly anxious to get to the bottom
of this matter so that our people  who have suffered and our future
generations will have some certainity in thier lives.

We are all aware of the upcoming First Ministers' Conference on health
scheduled to take place within two weeks. Prime Minister Martin and
Premier McGuinty will be together in the same room a few weeks. I
respectfully put it the two leaders, you have the opportunity to make
something happen that is truly positive for the people of Grassy and
Wabaseemoong. I am requesting that you agree between the two of you to
announce an independent Enquiry which would jointly commissioned by your 2
Governments to get to the bottom of this tragety which contine to inflect
our people.

We know the conflicting evdence on the effects of menthyl mercury on
people. By calling a public Inquiry, at all be put on the table so that
the international medical and scientific community can deliberate and
disclose evidense on their research and findings, and come to conclussions
on their lives that have been so tragically impacted.

It is sad for me to have to say this but it has been on mind for some
time. If this was a Walkerton, is there a single person in this room today
that would deny the fact the Governments would have more acted much
swiftly and decisively? What we require os no less and no more than the
people of Grassy and Wabaseemoong be given the degree and due respect as
other citizens of this country.

I sat to you Prime Minsier Martin and Premeir, that it is morally wrong
and it should not be the Canadian wat to permit this uncertainity to
linger any longer. The piosoning of our people is not an acceptable
option.

--------------------

There were nine items given terms of references given by the chief as
the oriented task to undertake for this public inquire.

There has been suggestion that others would like to recieve updates from
Grassy thru there web site, however, to my limitations to send out many
listeners my mail sending is limited to only fifty. I ask many of you's to
go ahead and e-mail your favourite news lines for communications. I will
give you the 9 details in my next report plus more... awsa steve

--------------------