Last week, thousands joined the Grassy Narrows Indigenous community in Toronto to call for clean water and an end to decades of harm through mercury poisoning. More than 90% of the Grassy Narrows community continues to experience the effects of mercury poisoning following a chemical plant dump of 9000 kilos of mercury into the English-Wabigoon River. Like so many other unions, community organizations, and concerned people from across the city, the Elementary Teachers of Toronto was proud to join our voices in this call to action for justice as we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
But once again we see an Indigenous community’s issues dismissed, and their story buried. We see the vilification of links made between solidarity movements on Turtle Island and Palestine. And we see TDSB Staff and Trustees publicly weighing in before any process has actually been undertaken or completed.
Disgracefully, Premier Ford’s sexist attack on teachers – telling us to “stick to our knitting” – who brought students to this event to continue to enact Truth and Reconciliation is a diversion from the real harm done in Grassy Narrows, as well as in our schools. He continues to attempt to divert attention from the issues harming Ontarians, whether mercury poisoning in Indigenous communities, massive underfunding and cuts to our public sector services, more than a million people visiting food banks for the first time over the last year, violence in our schools, or the critical lack of supports and resources for teachers and students.
This was a teachable moment, and Doug Ford failed the test. Instead of leadership, he’s shown he will continue to ignore the call of Grassy Narrows for justice, and throw our schools, teachers, and our communities who need help the most under the bus.
The Elementary Teachers of Toronto is committed to social, environmental, and racial justice. We will continue to support Grassy Narrows in its call for environmental justice. Instead of searching for a soundbite, the Premier should take a moment to listen to the thousands of people calling for justice for Grassy Narrows.
