The Anishinabek Nation and Iroquois Caucus Alliance on Radioactive Waste have grave concerns that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) will develop self-serving policies which will potentially impact the safety and health of all occupants of this land.
On this Earth Day and Great Lakes Day, the Anishinabek Nation and Iroquois Caucus Alliance on Radioactive Waste are looking to the public for assistance in carrying forward their message as they call for protection of our Great Lakes Basin and Mother Earth in order to bring healing and restoration.
“Much like Mother Earth, the Great Lakes face many issues that include pollution and invasive species, demonstrating why a dedicated day is an added necessity to raise awareness and encourage all inhabitants of this land to take care of them in order to bring healing to Mother Earth,” says Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare. “We need to protect our water bodies from anything that can harm them, and that includes toxic pollution such as nuclear waste. We have made our objections to putting the nuclear industry in charge of Canada’s Radioactive Strategy and believe that Canada should have an independent agency in place whose only concern is the environment and its inhabitants and not if the nuclear waste industry has any future or not.”
Read the full news release here:
“As First Nations people, we have a sacred responsibility to our lands and waters and call on all levels of governments to invest in renewable power generation and storage solutions alongside efficient energy transmission and distribution be utilized in place of nuclear energy,” says Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald. “Indigenous Peoples around the world are consistently sounding the alarm that water needs to be protected and we as First Nations people have a sacred relationship with water. Storing nuclear waste close to our water sources is not an acceptable option. We use days such as Great Lakes Day and Earth Day to raise awareness and encourage everyday Canadians to learn and join us in our calls to protect Mother Earth for future generations.”
Anishinabek Police Chief John Syrette’s disciplinary hearing was held last week. Syrette has been suspended since being accused of misconduct two years ago.
Details of the conduct charges are now public.
Here’s the newsfeed to read more!
The Anishinabek reps argued that climate change disproportionately affects our communities, traditional ways of life, and the ability to assert and exercise jurisdiction in relation to environmental issues that directly impact our lands and people. As the quality and quantity of natural resources and medicines continue to diminish with the effects of climate change, it is vital that First Nation voices are heard and that their rights are respected.
The Anishinabek Nation is pleased to share that its arguments were heard and the majority of the Supreme Court of Canada has sided with the First Nation position.
It is especially significant that the court recognized that climate change has the effect of “threatening the ability of Indigenous communities in Canada to sustain themselves and maintain their traditional ways of life”
To read the full statement, click the download button below.
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