Serpent River rally draws attention to planned herbicide spray on Crown land

A large group stopped traffic in Serpent River First Nation on Thursday aimed at stopping a provincial plan to spray herbicide in the area.

A large group stopped traffic for about 10 minutes along the Trans-Canada Highway in Serpent River First Nation on Thursday.

They rallied in support of efforts to stop a provincial plan to spray glyphosate herbicide over forests in northern Ontario.

The group formed a human circle around Indigenous drummers and flag bearers.

For the rest of the two-hour ‘highway action,’ the group waved placards on the side of the roadway for an information event – not a protest.

The event was organized by the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Elders, who say the spray damages the environment.

“It’s doing a lot of damage not only to the trees but to every living thing on this planet,” said Caroline Recollet, a spokesperson for the group.

The elders said only a few weeks’ notice was given that in the next month, the Ministry of Natural Resources would be conducting aerial spray of glyphosate over Crown land near Elliot Lake, Blind River, Espanola and other forest management areas in the north.

Along with violating treaty rights, supporters at Thursday’s event said the chemical disrupts ecosystems, harms biodiversity and contaminates water.

“The food chain is affected for all of us … you know, amongst the plants and animals,” Recollet said.

“But for us who also eat from the forest, forage in the forest and eat the meat -- you know the moose and deer -- that’s our livelihood.”

“We’re here to protect the future of our lands, cleaner lands and for the future of our young children, the next generation to come,” said elder Grace Manitowabi.

“If they destroy our waters, what’s there going to be left for them?”

Indigenous lense

Susan Chiblow is a research professor with the University of Guelph, who is from Garden River First Nation.

Chiblow’s current research is looking into how forest and aquatic life are affected by the chemical and she’s determining what healthy water should look like through an Indigenous lens.

“Right now, governments and other western scientists just do water monitoring,” she said.

“So how are the trees being affected by the water? How are we being affected by the water when we can’t go collect water and do a ceremony?”

“That’s another objective, so we developed a water management plan through Indigenous or Anishnawbek water monitoring,” Chiblow added.

Under Ontario’s forestry renewal system, the herbicide is used to hinder the growth of unwanted plants.

Ontario’s MNR provided an emailed statement to CTV News:

“Forest managers with sustainable forest licences have the ability to make their own decisions on what method for controlling competing vegetation they use. Glyphosate has been evaluated by Health Canada, who has said it does not present unacceptable risks to human health or the environment when used as directed. I would suggest reaching out to them for further information.”