River Run 2024: Walk with Grassy Narrows for Mercury Justice

The devastating mercury crisis in Grassy Narrows First Nation has persisted for decades, ever since 9 tonnes of mercury was dumped upstream in the 1960s, with little action from governments to help the people.

To this day, most Grassy Narrows members get no compensation for the serious impacts of the ongoing mercury crisis on their health, culture, and livelihoods. To make matters worse, Ontario is still allowing mining exploration on Grassy Narrows lands against Grassy Narrows’ will.

This year, The United Church of Canada has officially endorsed the Grassy Narrows River Run. The Climate Justice staff team and Indigenous Ministries and Justice are working collaboratively to support the grassroots people organizing the River Run. We invite all United Church folks across Turtle Island to join with them on their path to achieve mercury justice and freedom!

How you can help

• Amplify their social media.
• Invite your community of faith, family, and friends to join the United Church at noon on September 18, 2024, at Grange Park in downtown Toronto. We will have a big banner!

How United Church communities of faith can support the River Run

1. Let’s amplify the River Run throughout our social media networks and community bulletins.
2. On Sunday, September 15, please offer this prayer during your worship service to keep the youth, Elders, and community of Grassy Narrows in our hearts and wish them a safe journey to Toronto.

Shepherding God,
as churches across these lands ring bells of liberty and love:
      lead us on the path to justice,
      lead us on the path to freedom,
      lead us on the path of healing, and
      lead us on the path to solidarity
as we journey with the youth and community members of Grassy Narrows, 
      and join them in the fight for environmental justice.
May these bells stir us towards resounding actions, 
      until all have access to clean waters,
      and the abundant life that such waters provides.
Guide us, Great Shepherd, today and every day, 
on the path that leads to the flourishing of your Good Creation.
      Amen.

3. We ask United Churches across Canada to ring their bells at 1 p.m. ET in solidarity with the River Run and to take a stand against mercury and environmental poisoning.
4. We invite United Churches to gather so we can walk this journey together in unity. The walk is anticipated to begin at 12 p.m. ET at Grange Park and arrive at Queen’s Park by 3 p.m. ET. If you plan to attend, please contact us directly by e-mailing   . Also, RSVP at the River Run registration page. *Keep an eye out for our United Church of Canada banner as we will be gathering at the Henry Moore Sculpture.
5. Reserve a seat on one of the buses that will be departing from Montreal, *Ottawa, Hamilton, Guelph, Kingston, and Kitchener/Waterloo. Please visit the following links for each city. Find out more at the Free Grassy Narrows website.
6. If you are unable to join us, you can support Grassy Narrows River Run by donating.
7. Advocate for the Grassy Narrows River run by contacting your MP in support of Grassy Narrows demands for justice (page 12)

To learn more about the River Run, please visit the Free Grassy Narrows website.

Background

Grassy Nations people are powerful leaders in the movement for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice. They have shown us that we can fight for justice against all odds and make real gains.

Together Grassy Narrows people have kicked the world’s largest newsprint company off Grassy Narrows lands, forced the government to commit to clean up the English and Wabigoon Rivers, comprehensively reform the Mercury Disability Board, and build a Mercury Care Home and Treatment Centre in Grassy Narrows.

They won’t stop until Grassy Narrows has the good life that they enjoyed before mercury.

Come out to show your support for Grassy Narrows’ fight for mercury justice!

In September 2024, community members and leaders will travel 1,700 km from Grassy Narrows to Toronto to demand that Ontario and Canada:

1. Compensate everyone in Grassy Narrows fairly for the mercury crisis.
2. Respect the Grassy Narrows Indigenous Protected Area (end mining and logging plans in Grassy Narrows territory).
3. Support Grassy Narrows in restoring their community and way of life from the damage that mercury has done.