By Cymry Gomery, Montreal for a World BEYOND War, July 17, 2024
Solidarity from Politicians, Environmentalists, Civil rights activists, and Anti-war activists at hearings
On July 10 and 11, 2024, people from diverse communities converged at the Ottawa Supreme Court to support the Kebaowek First Nation in a court challenge that seeks to hold the Canadian government to its legal responsibility to obtain consent, which has been denied, meaning that the government must endeavor to find another site for Chalk River Laboratory’s years of accumulated radioactive waste.
Rain could not dampen the spirit of solidarity of these activists saying no to nuclear waste!
In Algonquin territory, Chalk River Laboratories Ontario Canada has contaminated groundwater, lakes, and the Ottawa River without Algonquin Anishinaabeg people’s consent since the 1950s. Kebaowek First Nation has brought a judicial review on grounds related to both the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) and the United Nations Declaration Act (2021). The application seeks review of a January 2024 decision of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission which approved a license amendment for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ “Near Surface Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility” next to the Ottawa River. I wrote previously about this situation and why we should be concerned.
The Ottawa River (the Kichi Sibi) is a source of drinking water for millions of people, as is the Rivière des Prairies on Québec’s North Shore—and both water systems could be affected by runoff from the nuclear waste mound in the event of an earthquake, explosions from a military conflict, flooding or similar catastrophes at any time in the future.
On July 10th, the first day of the hearings, Kebaowek First Nation members and council mingled inside and outside the Supreme Court building on Wellington Street with allies from other first nations and non-native groups. The native allies included Justin Roy, Economic Development Advisor for the Kebaowek First Nation, Lucien Wabanonik, Chief of the Lac Simon Anishnabe First Nation, Verna Polson, former Grand Chief of the Algonquin Anishinabeg, Sean Mclarel, vice chief TFN, Savanna McGregor, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council, and Casey Ratt, Chief of the First Nation of Barriere Lake.
The fact that this case also touches on social justice, peace, and environmental concerns was underscored by the presence of representatives of the Council of Canadians (Ottawa chapter); Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area, World BEYOND War (Montreal chapter); and the Green Coalition and Sauvons la falaise, to name a few.
Here are a few brief excerpts from a few of the press conference speakers.
Abdication of responsibility
Ole Hendrickson, representing Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area, had this to say:
“Many people have worked hard for years, to bring some sanity, some sense of responsibility, to Canada’s eight billion dollar nuclear waste liability in the Ottawa Valley. Unfortunately, the government of Canada has abdicated its responsibility for these dangerous wastes, to a multi-national private consortium whose main goal is to maximize profit…. It was no surprise to us when the CNSC approved this project last January.”
“Profoundly alarming”
Sébastien Lemire, Bloc Québecois MP for Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the only MP present, spoke of having witnessed the effects of radiation first hand:
”Nous sommes ici aujourd’hui à coté des chefs Anishinaabe, en support à cette contestation. Il y a deux points qui m’apparaissent particulièrement important à souligner en cet enjeu-la… c’est notamment la contamination nocif qui peut avoir cet site sur la Rivière d’Ottawa, la Kichi Sibi, qui coule ici à quelques kilomètres du colline du Parliament… J’ai visité avec le group Amitié Parlementaire Japon-Canada le site de Fukushima Japon… il ya la quelque chose de profondément alarmant—on est capable sur le site, plus de dix ans plus tard, de constater que la radiation est toujours présent.”
A spirit of unity and determination
Lance Haymond, Chief of Kebaowek First Nation encouraged allies to take action:
“We can certainly rally our efforts to stop construction of this nuclear facility on Anishinaabe territory. In the spirit of unity and determination I ask for your continued support of our actions and fundraising campaigns on the Raven Trust website. Let us stand together to protect our land, our water, and the rights of all people.”
Stronger together!
One of the supporters handed out home-baked shortbread cookies representing the various animals whose lives would be dramatically affected by the nuclear dump. Each cookie was wrapped individually and labelled “Save the Kichi Sibi: Stronger together!” And indeed I was encouraged by the turnout, and by the presence of fellow supporters and friends old and new. We will stop this nuclear folly!
Kumar Sundaram, Sonali Huria, and Cym Gomery pose with our banner near the courthouse
Media coverage
The press conference was covered by several media outlets; see links below.
APTN National News: “Kebaowek First Nation, allies call for judicial review of approved nuclear waste disposal site”
Le Devoir: “Des consultations «superficielles» concernant un site d’enfouissement nucléaire”
National Observer: “First Nation challenges nuclear waste decision in federal court”
Hamilton Spectator: “Kebaowek court challenge to Chalk River nuclear-waste storage site underway”
Globe and Mail: “First Nation argues in Federal Court it was not properly consulted on nuclear dump decision”
