Two Canadian First Nations chiefs have called on the country's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to apologise for saying he could "outlast" an Indigenous woman who was protesting over mercury poisoning in her community.
Grassy Narrows woman Chrissy Isaacs is suffering from mercury poisoning and was in Toronto on Monday to demand compensation from the provincial government of Ontario for mercury contamination.
The Dryden Paper Mill released thousands of kilograms of mercury into the community's river system from the 1960s to 1970s in what was one of the worst environmental disasters in Canada's history. To this day, community members are dealing with the consequences.
Grassy Narrows is 150 kilometres from Dryden, Ontario, close to the Ontario-Manitoba border. Wabaseemoong Independent Nation is also nearby.
A 2024 study from Western University found emissions from the mill - which is upstream from the Grassy Narrows First Nation - including sulphate, continue to wreak havoc on the community by generating methylmercury.
The report found levels of methylmercury, the most toxic form of mercury, in the Wabigoon River's fish may be twice as high as they would have been without the mill discharge.
The mill stopped using mercury in its industrial process in the 1970s, but mercury levels downstream from the plant haven't decreased significantly since the 1980s.
One study estimated 90 per cent of the Grassy Narrows population suffers from some degree of mercury poisoning. The heavy metal can be passed from mothers to babies they carry.
Mercury poisoning can cause neurotoxicity and damage peoples' nervous systems, causing premature deaths.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports Ms Isaacs and other community members and supporters attended a news conference Mr Carney held on Monday with Ontario Premier Doug Ford to announce new funding for housing.
She and the other protesters could be heard chanting and shouting in the background about the mercury contamination, CBC reports.
"I can outlast her," Mr Carney said, laughing briefly along with Mr Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.
Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Sherry Ackabee told The Canadian Press Mr Carney should apologise for his remark.
"Shame on you, prime minister. You're making a joke of my people," Chief Ackabee said.
"And for all the people laughing behind him, shame on all of you."
The CBC reports Chief Roland Fisher of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations said governments should not dismiss the concerns of his community members, and called on the Prime Minister to meet with them.
The Prime Minister's Office said in a media statement Mr Carney could not hear what the demonstrators were saying and that members of his staff spoke to the demonstrators to hear their concerns. It's not clear if the prime minister knew what the protesters were there for at the time he made the remarks.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office, Audrey Champoux, said Canada's Indigenous Services Minister, Mandy Gull-Masty, is "in contact with Grassy Narrows leadership to continue progress on critical projects ranging from a new health centre, housing, and a mercury care home that will help ensure those suffering from mercury poisoning have the care they need, close to home".
Chief Ackabee said she has yet to hear from the minister and does not accept the claim that Mr Carney did not know the purpose of the protest.
"He's just trying to cover himself up now because he's realising what he said is wrong. Shame on him," she told The Canadian Press.
Grassy Narrows First Nation community member Julia da Silva, who is dealing with the impacts of mercury poisoning herself, told The Canadian Press the entire community is upset with the prime minister.
"That's just typical government reaction to our demise. At the same time, it was good that Canadian society could see the true reaction of government to our people, and it's been like that for 60 years," said Ms da Silva.
