Our Waawiindamaagewin
TR ADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE ELDERS GROUP UPDATE By Susan (Sue) Chiblow
The Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders group is from First Nations in the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaaewin (RHW). The TEK Elders, initially from the North Shore, came together to discuss concerns with aerial spraying of glyphosate in the forests in 2013. The TEK Elders have expanded to include Elders from the RHW. They have done several demonstrations, written numerous letters to governments, drafted a position paper, a resolution from the RHW Ogimaak, and presented a submission to United Nations Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes (toxics), Baskut Tuncak in 2019 on the damage of glyphosate use in the RHW territory. The TEK Elders are demanding a moratorium on glyphosate use in the RHW territory. Health Canada approves the use of glyphosate in Canada and the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in Ontario issues licenses to forestry companies to apply glyphosate in forestry operations via aerial spraying. In forestry, glyphosate is used in ‘conifer treatments’ to suppress the growth of plants that compete with commercially valuable timber species such as Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana). Glyphosate is sprayed aerially over recent clear cuts and is sold for forestry use under the trade names Vision and VisionMax. The aerial spraying violates First Nations Treaty rights to the waters, to hunt, fish, gather berries, and medicinal plants in the Robinson Huron Treaty areas as glyphosate kills plants, poisons the waters, and wildlife moves from the areas due to the lack of food. 44
| E-Wiindamaagejig: The Robinson Huron Treaty Times
The TEK Elders participated in the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) for APTN investigates series discussing the harms of aerial spraying on wildlife. This discussion featured TEK Elders and trappers about the reduction of wildlife since aerial spraying started. The adverse impacts from glyphosate use are on the entire health of the forest effecting First Nations socially, economically, spiritually, and culturally. The knowledge the TEK Elders possess state the glyphosate disrupts wildlife reproduction systems, causes wildlife to move from the area due to the lack of food, destroys medicines, and poisons waters disrupting the entire ecosystem. The TEK Elders have raised concerns with the biodiversity of the forests being compromised by glyphosate use and the contribution to climate change with the destruction of the forest. The TEK Elders have a vision of seeking to help the lands and all its beings become healthy and stay healthy for future generations. The TEK Elders group mission statement outlines a plan to manage and protect the lands and all its beings in a respectful balanced way, for today and for future generations through Anishinabek original instructions, responsibilities and laws given by the Creator.
