Aamjiwnaang First Nation hosts annual St. Clair River Days to raise awareness on local water issues

By Marina Plain

AAMJIWNAANG FIRST NATION— Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s Environment Department recently hosted its annual St. Clair River Days on Mar. 7 with some 60 band members attending.

The community is nestled along the shore of the river that feeds into Lake St.Clair and Lake Huron. The event was created to raise awareness about the proactive measures the department is taking to address issues facing the watershed due to climate change, and the ever-present industrial and petrochemical impacts. At the event, there were a few industry vendors represented out of the over 40 that border the community.

The event raised awareness on a community issue from a decade ago regarding the contamination in Talfourd Creek, a part of the St. Clair watershed and runs through the community. Since that time, there have been multiple initiatives to mitigate the contamination and erosion; the community worked alongside of the St. Clair Conservation Authority. After continued habitat restoration efforts and studies, a report was published declaring the creek no longer contaminated. In 2014, the community received a conservation award.

This year, attendees received an updating noting that through further work being done jointly with the St. Clair Conservation Authority and the Bi-National Public Advisory Committee to actively participate in the delisting of the St. Clair River designation of “impaired” to “not impaired.” Currently, the recommendation from the Environment Committee to Chief and Council is for them to support the delisting. If successful, the recommendation will eventually reach the International Joint Commission to delist this Area of Concern (AOC). The overall goal is to have it removed from the AOC. The AOC is listed under the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. An AOC is a site on the Great Lakes system where environmental quality is degraded compared to other areas in the Great Lake Basin resulting in the impairment of the river’s beneficial uses. A total of 43 AOCs were identified by the International Joint Commission in the mid-1980s.

There is a long way to go, as this is only one issue. The other is the clean up of mercury sediment in the bottom of the St. Clair River. The report on that has been issued to impacted communities and there are several stages to go through on that section of an AOC. It is listed under Sediment Management. Another update will follow as that effort progresses.

In regard to the community event, it was great to see the number of families, especially Elders and youth at the event; it shows the passion and commitment to learning more about aquatic issues and breaking down the concerns at a local level. It was an encouraging atmosphere, especially seeing the children engaged in the annual fishing game held in the centre of the event, it represents the future of our community, livelihood, education and sustainability of our fisherman to continue feeding their families with their catch of the day!