“It’s not just being downstream, it’s also being under the wind that is a big concern and we’re talking about the high health impacts,” Chief Andy Rickard said of the First River Garden’s proximity to Algoma Steel.
The Garden River First Nation is monitoring possible impacts on local wildlife and its residents who use the St. Marys after an oil spill that occurred upstream at Sault Ste. Marie Thursday.
Contacted by telephone on Thursday, Chief Andy Rickard said the Garden River environmental team is closely monitoring the situation as oil spills have been transported along the St. Louis River. Mary’s.
The team was proactive and traveled to Sault Ste. Marie shortly after the spill to start watching him, Rickard said.
The St. Marys crosses the Garden River First Nation and is home to countless wildlife, he noted.
On Thursday, Algoma Public Health issued a public warning warning residents downstream of Algoma Steel not to consume, swim or bathe in water extracted from the St. Marys as a result of the spill.
Rickard said his immediate priority is to keep Garden River residents aware of the situation and its potential impacts.
“A lot of people fish from the shore,” Rickard said.
Algoma Steel has never contacted Garden River with significant inquiries in its 120-year history, Rickard said.
“I remember talking to some of the leaders here before my time and reading some of the information and coming to the conclusion that meaningful engagement, consultation and accommodation, none of that was done with our community,” he said. “For many years I have heard clearly and loudly from our citizens about the impacts, from the point of view of wildlife, the point of view of fish, the point of view of water and even the quality of the air also under the wind “.
This latest incident only shows that Algoma Steel has to consult with Garden River because the First Nation is directly affected by everything the industry does, Rickard said. There have never been similar consultations between the First Nation and other industries, such as the former St. Marys Pulp and Paper, he said.
“Algoma Steel: We forced his hand to address them to tell them that we need to talk about this because we want to make sure that commitment, communication, especially if something environmental happens, we need to worry about because we We can warn our citizens, especially those who live by the water, “he said.
Rickard said having these consultations is important for his community to move forward.
“It’s not just being downstream, it’s also being under the wind that’s a big concern and we’re talking about the high health impacts,” Rickard said. “This is our chance to assert our responsibilities in a nation-to-nation way and say that we are living with these impacts and will be consulted, we will be accommodated by some of these things that have happened in the past.”
A meeting between Garden River and Algoma Steel leaders was scheduled for November, but was postponed due to COVID-19.
“We are looking to improve relations with the steel plant and have these meaningful discussions about the environment, some of the resources around this area and open up dialogue,” Rickard said. “I’m convinced we’re on the right track.”