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Hands Across Polluted Waters
Publisher: DEC Films, Toronto, CanadaYear Published: 1975 Pages: 30min Price: $0.75 Resource Type: Film/Video Cx Number: CX215 Chronicle of the visit or representatives from White Dog and Grassy Narrows Reserves to Minimata and Niigaata in Japan. Abstract: This film chronicles the historic visit in July 1975 of representatives from the White Dog and Grassy Narrows Indian Reserves and the National Indian Brotherhood to Minimata and Niigaata in Japan. The visit marks the beginning of a unique international alliance uniting victims of industrial pollution from two continents. Minimata disease (mercury poisoning) struck the inhabitants of the fishing village near Minimata in 1973. It was caused by Mercury dumped into Minimata Bay by the Chisso Chemical Corporation. The fishing industry, health, community life and the major food source of the people were destroyed. Similarly in N.W.Ontario, mercury dumped by Reed Paper from its Dryden plant has destroyed commercial fishing, tourist guiding, community life and major protein sources of the Ojibway people of White Dog and Grassy Narrows. The visit was made at the invitation of the Minimata Disease Patients Alliance, who are determined that the world learn the lesson of Minimata and that the Japanese tragedy not be repeated in Canada. Three representatives of the Minimata Patients Alliance paid a return visit to Canada, the affected areas of Northern Ontario in September, 1975. |