A recurring theme we hear from community partners and friends relates to grief and loss that have been suffered, including the loss of culturally meaningful and sacred places that have been destroyed. Life on the land and water was a focal point in the lives of our parents and their parents and so on.
We are hearing concerns related to water and contamination of the waters, and even concerns related to mercury poisoning. Animals have moved away or been drowned in their burrows, and the ability to provide for families has been largely been taken away. Today, many peoples have to travel far away from hydro-affected waters to hunt, trap and fish.
We want to be clear that there is a great deal of strength in our communities, but for many, providing the basics of life for themselves and their families—just ensuring they have water to drink and food to eat—remains an ongoing struggle.