This Children's Day support Grassy Narrows youth in their fight for a safe, healthy home. | View in browser.

Dear John,

The youth of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows First Nation) are still fighting for their human rights after 50 years of government failure to mitigate the impacts of mercury poisoning in their home community.

In the 1960s, the Ontario government allowed massive amounts of mercury waste to be dumped into the Wabigoon river system in traditional Anishinaabe territory. Because of government inaction, generations of young people have grown up with devastating health problems and the erosion of their cultural traditions like fishing and ceremony on the land.

The youth of Grassy Narrows demand better. They’re saying enough is enough — it’s time for the Canadian government to keep its promise to remedy the mercury crisis once and for all.

John, today is World's Childrens' Day, a day to protect the rights of every child. Today is also new Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller's first day in office, so let's make sure he hears loud and clear that action to address the Grassy Narrows mercury crisis is a top priority.

You can mark this special day for children’s rights by calling on Minister Miller to urgently address the mercury crisis, including fully funding the mercury care home promised to Grassy Narrows and placing the promised funding into a trust held by the community.

Want to do more? Here are two ways you can further support the young people of Grassy Narrows on Children’s Day:

Sign up for Write for Rights

Grassy Narrows youth are featured in this year’s Write for Rights campaign, Amnesty’s annual letter-writing marathon and the world’s biggest event for human rights.

>> Sign up for Write for Rights to join the global day of action in support of Grassy Narrows youth this December
Share a #SolidarityWalleye photo on social media

Walleye fish are a traditional and favourite source of food and the community economy was once based around fishing; however, the fish in the river system are still being poisoned because the contamination has not yet been cleaned up.

>> Show your solidarity with youth from the community by creating a walleye message of solidarity

The young people of Asubpeeschoseewagong have the right to grow up in a healthy environment and enjoy their cultural traditions. Thank you for supporting their call for justice so that they and the next generations of young people can have a mercury-free future.

Mi aje kija pizagwikidamag (it is time we lift this issue up),

Ana Nicole Collins
Indigenous Rights Advisor
Amnesty International Canada

P.S. This World Children’s Day marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. You can mark this special anniversary for children’s rights by calling on the Canadian government to finally address the mercury crisis in Grassy Narrows >>