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Canada News.Net
a day ago
- Health
- Canada News.Net
Yellowknife's Giant Mine: Canada downplayed arsenic exposure as an Indigenous community was poisoned
Share article Print article Decades of gold mining at Giant Mine in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, has left a toxic legacy: 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide dust stored in underground chambers. As a multi-billion government remediation effort to clean up the mine site and secure the underground arsenic ramps up, the Canadian government is promising to deal with the mine's disastrous consequences for local Indigenous communities. In March, the minister for Crown-Indigenous relations appointed a ministerial special representative, Murray Rankin, to investigate how historic mining affected the treaty rights of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. We document this history in our forthcoming book, The Price of Gold: Mining, Pollution, and Resistance in Yellowknife, exposing how colonialism, corporate greed and lax regulation led to widespread air and water pollution, particularly affecting Tatst'ne (Yellowknives Dene) communities. We also highlight the struggle for pollution controls and public health led by Tatst'ne and their allies, including mine workers. The story begins when prospectors discovered a rich gold ore body at Giant Mine in the 1930s. While mining started at the nearby Con Mine in the late 1930s, Giant's development was interrupted by the Second World War. Only with new investment and the lifting of wartime labour restrictions in 1948 did Giant Mine start production. Mining at Giant was a challenge. Much of the gold was locked within arsenopyrite formations, and to get at it, workers needed to crush, then roast the gold ore at very high temperatures. This burned off the arsenic in the ore before using cyanide treatment to extract gold. One byproduct of this process was thousands of tonnes per day of arsenic trioxide, sent up a smokestack into the local environment. In addition to being acutely toxic, arsenic trioxide is also linked to lung and skin cancers, though scientific understanding of environmental exposures was inconclusive at the time. Archival records show that federal public health officials recommended the roaster be shut down until arsenic emissions could be controlled. But the company and federal mining regulators dragged their feet, fearing the economic impact. The result, in 1951, was the poisoning death of at least one Dene child on Latham Island (now Ndil), near the mine; his family was compensated a paltry $750. Many Dene in Ndil relied on snow melt for drinking water, and there were reports of widespread sickness in the community. Local animals, including dairy cattle and sled dogs, also became sick and died. Only after this tragedy did the federal government force the company to implement pollution controls. The control system was not terribly effective at first, though as it improved, arsenic emissions dropped dramatically from nearly 12,000 pounds per day to around 115 pounds per day in 1959. Thousands of tonnes of arsenic captured through this process was collected and stored in mined-out chambers underground. Throughout the 1960s, public health officials continually downplayed concerns about arsenic exposure in Yellowknife, whether via drinking water or on local vegetables. By the 1970s, however, latent public health concerns over arsenic exposure in Yellowknife became a major national media story. It began with a CBC Radio As it Happens episode in 1975 that unearthed an unreleased government report documenting widespread, chronic arsenic exposure in the city. Facing accusations of a cover-up, the federal government dismissed health concerns even as it set up a local study group to investigate them. Suspicious of government studies and disregard for local health risks, Indigenous communities and workers took matters into their own hands. A remarkable alliance emerged between the Indian Brotherhood of the Northwest Territories and the United Steelworkers of America (the union representing Giant Mine workers) to undertake their own investigations. They conducted hair samplings of Dene children and mine workers - the population most exposed to arsenic in the community - and submitted them for laboratory analysis. The resulting report accused the federal government of suppressing health information and suggested children and workers were being poisoned. The controversy made national headlines yet again, prompting an independent inquiry by the Canadian Public Health Association. The association's 1978 report somewhat quelled public concern. But environmental and public health advocates in Yellowknife continued their fight for pollution reduction through the 1980s. As Giant Mine entered the turbulent final decade of its life, including a violent lockout in 1992, public concern mounted over the growing environmental liabilities. Most urgently, people living in and near Yellowknife began to realize that enough arsenic trioxide had been stored underground over the years to poison every human on the planet four times over. Without constant pumping of groundwater out of the mine, the highly soluble arsenic could seep into local waterways, including Yellowknife Bay. When the company that owned the mine, Royal Oak Mines, went bankrupt in 1999, it left no clear plan for the remediation of this toxic material, and very little money to deal with it. The federal government assumed primary responsibility for the abandoned mine and, in the quarter century since, developed plans to clean up the site and stabilize the arsenic underground by freezing it - an approach that will cost more than $4 billion. Public concern and activism by Yellowknives Dene First Nation and other Yellowknifers prompted a highly contested environmental assessment and the creation of an independent oversight body, the Giant Mine Oversight Board in 2015. Under the current remediation strategy, the toxic waste at Giant Mine will require perpetual care, imposing a financial and environmental burden on future generations. The long history of historical injustice resulting from mineral development and pollution around Yellowknife remains unaddressed. In support of calls for an apology and compensation, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation recently published reports that include oral testimony and other evidence of impacts on their health and land in their traditional territory. Hopefully, the Canadian government's appointment of the special representative means the colonial legacy of the mine will finally be addressed. Giant Mine serves as a warning about the current push from governments and industry to ram through development projects without environmental assessments or Indigenous consultations.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
How wildfires are disrupting traplines and raising questions in northwest Sask.
Kelly Patrick wonders how different the boreal forest in northwest Saskatchewan would look if a big push to protect a large swath of it used for trapping and hunting hadn't failed. Patrick led a group that endeavoured to conserve 22,000 square kilometres of forest in the Île-à-la-Crosse area known as N-14 Fur Block, an area home to more than 100 trap lines. Recent wildfires decimated forest habitats in the northwest region, burning up to 90 per cent of N-14 Fur Block, according to one local estimate. "It's devastating," said Patrick, who was executive director for the Sakitawak Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), the group that sought to protect N-14 Fur Block until project funding dried up. "It's devastating because of the lack of respect for First Nations and Métis in that area who have been telling this government and previous governments about the need to allow for Indigenous knowledge to be a part of planning." Over hundreds of years, Métis, Woodland Cree and Dene people in the area have gathered knowledge to manage the land. The Sakitawak IPCA would have relied on local knowledge to establish sustainable forest management practices. A "fur block" is a defined area in which approved trappers are allowed to harvest fur. The designation does not trigger extra forest management or protection measures. Acting Île-à-la-Crosse Mayor Vince Ahenakew said the Muskeg fire that he estimates burned about 90 per cent of the N-14 Fur Block this summer is worse than the blaze that tore through it two years ago. The area is home to vulnerable species including the woodland caribou. "A lot of [animals] are having their young right now, little rabbits, the moose and bears," Ahenakew said. "You kind of feel sorry for them, as well for the people that are suffering from these fires. There seems to be no end in sight. There's dry, dry, dry weather and wind every single day." The provincial government could not confirm how much land in N-14 Fur Block burned so far this year. Dale Barks, an ecologist with the Ministry of Environment, said aerial surveys could be done this fall. "Once the fires are kind of dissipated, we can see how much is burned [and] we get an assessment of what's left after the fire," Barks said. Forests ecosystems have adapted to wildfire cycles, which help regeneration and provide diverse habitats in various stages of growth. But the benefits aren't always a comfort for people who rely on the land, Barks said. "Once the forest fire moves through ... there's really not a whole lot to do unless that trapper can find patches of habitat elsewhere in the trap line that haven't been disturbed." Wildfires in the province have burned more than 2 million hectares of land so far this year. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said 942,173 hectares were burned during last year's wildfire season. That's just behind the 1,722,610 hectares burned in 2015 and the 1,868,695 hectares burned in 2023. Patrick said climate change is rapidly changing the ecosystem and severity of wildfires. "We need to put some serious thoughts into planning and planning in advance," Patrick said. "We know this is going to happen ...This is our new normal."
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Local Business Owner & Advisor, Dene Green, To Stand For Franklin Ward
Press Release – ACT New Zealand ACT Local has selected Maraetai resident and small business owner Dene Green as its candidate for the Franklin Ward in this year's Auckland Council election. Dene will also stand for the Wairoa Subdivision of the Franklin Local Board. Dene has over 30 years of experience in logistics, business ownership, and mentoring. He runs a service supporting small businesses and local development and holds an EMBA and a PostDoctorate in Global Business from the University of Oxford. He has championed renewable energy projects such as offshore wind power, supported aquaculture ventures, and pushed for Free Trade Zones in New Zealand, including the proposed Marsden Point in Northland. He also advised the campaign to position Auckland as a strategic 'Southern Link' transport hub between China and South America. Now Dene is focused on Franklin. As a proud Franklin local of Ngāti Hine descent, he understands what matters to families and businesses here. For too long Franklin has been treated as Auckland's forgotten rural fringe. From Whitford and Beachlands to Pukekohe and Waiuku, fastgrowing communities have seen clogged roads, stalled infrastructure, and rising rates with little to show for it. Auckland Council keeps adding climate levies and hiking business rates instead of delivering practical solutions. Franklin deserves better, investment that matches our growth, infrastructure that keeps up, and leadership that puts local priorities first. 'Franklin deserves better than being treated like a rural afterthought,' Dene says. 'Our communities need practical, people-first representation. I'll focus on fixing roads, improving local facilities, and making housing easier, not endless bureaucracy and red tape. 'Council should make life easier, not harder. Ratepayers deserve value for money and a council that works for them.' – Dene Green Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Ending the war on cars Cutting the waste Stopping race-based politics Restoring accountability Lower rates ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: ' ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture.' – Cameron Luxton
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Local Business Owner & Advisor, Dene Green, To Stand For Franklin Ward
ACT Local has selected Maraetai resident and small business owner Dene Green as its candidate for the Franklin Ward in this year's Auckland Council election. Dene will also stand for the Wairoa Subdivision of the Franklin Local Board. Dene has over 30 years of experience in logistics, business ownership, and mentoring. He runs a service supporting small businesses and local development and holds an EMBA and a PostDoctorate in Global Business from the University of Oxford. He has championed renewable energy projects such as offshore wind power, supported aquaculture ventures, and pushed for Free Trade Zones in New Zealand, including the proposed Marsden Point in Northland. He also advised the campaign to position Auckland as a strategic 'Southern Link' transport hub between China and South America. Now Dene is focused on Franklin. As a proud Franklin local of Ngāti Hine descent, he understands what matters to families and businesses here. For too long Franklin has been treated as Auckland's forgotten rural fringe. From Whitford and Beachlands to Pukekohe and Waiuku, fastgrowing communities have seen clogged roads, stalled infrastructure, and rising rates with little to show for it. Auckland Council keeps adding climate levies and hiking business rates instead of delivering practical solutions. Franklin deserves better, investment that matches our growth, infrastructure that keeps up, and leadership that puts local priorities first. 'Franklin deserves better than being treated like a rural afterthought,' Dene says. 'Our communities need practical, people-first representation. I'll focus on fixing roads, improving local facilities, and making housing easier, not endless bureaucracy and red tape. "Council should make life easier, not harder. Ratepayers deserve value for money and a council that works for them.' – Dene Green Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Ending the war on cars Cutting the waste Stopping race-based politics Restoring accountability Lower rates ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: ' ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture." – Cameron Luxton
CBC
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Wayne K. Spear, Georges Erasmus and Rosanna Deerchild among winners for 2025 Indigenous Voices Awards
Social Sharing Wayne K. Spear, Georges Erasmus and Rosanna Deerchild are among this year's winners of the Indigenous Voices Awards (IVAs). Since 2017, the IVAs have recognized emerging Indigenous writers across the country for works in English, French and Indigenous languages. The awards have given a total of $247,000 to writers over their eight-year history. Spear and Erasmus won the $5,000 award for published prose in English for their book Hòt'a! Enough!: Georges Erasmus's Fifty-Year Battle for Indigenous Rights. The autobiography chronicles Dene leader Erasmus's decades-long fight for Indigenous rights, including his pivotal roles in the Berger Inquiry, the Oka Crisis, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and Aboriginal Healing Foundation. "For Indigenous peoples this book is an inspiration. A vivid look into the sacrifices and sheer determination of a person and his community in the continual struggle for recognition of our rights," said the jury in a citation. "For non-Indigenous peoples this book is an eye opener into what has and continues to go into the constant struggle for recognition and respect and the role that Georges has played in that." The jurors for the English prizes were Cody Caetano, Camille Georgeson-Usher, Liz Howard, Jessica Johns, Conor Kerr, Jónína Kirton, Cecily Nicholson, and Otoniya Juliane Okot Bitek. A vivid look into the sacrifices and sheer determination of a person and his community in the continual struggle for recognition of our rights. Spear is a Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) educator and writer. His other books include Residential Schools, with the Words and Images of Survivors and Full Circle: The Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the Unfinished Work of Hope, Healing, and Reconciliation. Spear is based in Toronto. Erasmus is the former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, president of the Indian Brotherhood of Northwest Territories and chair of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. He is a recipient of the Order of Canada and is based in Yellowknife. Deerchild won the $5,000 award for published poetry in English for her collection She Falls Again. The title follows the voice of a poet attempting to survive as an Indigenous person in Winnipeg when so many are disappearing. Riddled with uncertainties, like if the crow she speaks to is a trickster, the poet hears the message of the Sky Woman who is set on dismantling the patriarchy. Through short poems and prose this collection calls for reclamation and matriarchal power. "With precision, humour and love, Deerchild invites us into trickster conversations, cultural and familial memory, the beauty and resistance of Indigenous life and the revolutionary power of Sky Woman's return," said the IVA jury in a citation. "Deerchild instructs that 'these stories are scars i turn to stars/set free in the sky of telling,' where the rhythm of Cree 'carries/[her] back to bone memory,' and assures us that it's the lovers who will save us all." With precision, humour and love, Deerchild invites us into trickster conversations, cultural and familial memory, the beauty and resistance of Indigenous life and the revolutionary power of Sky Woman's return. - IVA jury Deerchild has been storytelling for more than 20 years, currently as host of CBC's Unreserved. Deerchild also developed and hosted This Place, a podcast series for CBC Books around the Indigenous anthology This Place: 150 Years Retold. Her book, calling down the sky, is her mother's residential school survivor story. Deerchild is currently based in Winnipeg. The French prizes went to Émergence insoumise by Cyndy Wylde and Trouver la maison by Océane Kitura Bohémier-Tootoo. Previous winners include Alicia Elliott, Brandi Bird, Cody Caetano, Emily Riddle, Brian Thomas Isaac, jaye simpson, Tanya Tagaq and Jesse Thistle. The IVAs are a crowd-funded non-profit organization with additional support provided by the Canada Council for the Arts, Pamela Dillon & Family Gift Fund, Penguin Random House Canada, Scholastic Canada and Douglas & McIntyre.
