TEK Elders confirm court action needs to be taken on aerial spraying on Robinson-Huron Treaty lands – Manitoulin Expositor

October 4, 2019

MANITOULIN ISLAND – The Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders group, which is made up of representatives through the Robinson-Huron Treaty area, has given its unanimous support for court action to be taken in regards to the use of aerial spraying of herbicides by provincial and federal ministries within the Treaty areas. They say they will be going to court to force the government to live up to promises made and signed in the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850, which guaranteed First Nations the right to hunt, fish, gather berries and use plant medicines in traditional territories. The Constitution Act of 1982 reaffirms those rights, and the elders contend that these rights are being violated by aerial spraying being carried out on their lands without even any consultation or input from First Nations.

“Back when I was chief of Sheshegwaning First Nation there were all kinds of animals, fish and birds around, the vegetation was good, the water was healthy to drink and use. Today, everything is so polluted; the whole world has a big problem not just our area,” stated Bill Antoine, a member of the TEK Elders at a meeting last week on Manitoulin. “Now people are getting sick from drinking or using the water, and everything is dying off-flies, insects, birds, fish, and animals. We are all here for a reason; we don’t need aerial spraying, it is polluting our areas.”

Read More: https://www.manitoulin.ca/tek-elders-confirm-court-action-needs-to-be-taken-on-aerial-spraying-on-robinson-huron-treaty-lands/