Grassy Narrows youth at centre of Amnesty International’s global letter-writing campaign

Write for Rights demands justice for youth from First Nation in northwestern Ontario

WINNIPEG – Amnesty International’s annual global letter-writing campaign is taking aim at the devastating mercury crisis that youth in Asubpeeschoseewagong, also known as Grassy Narrows First Nation, have been fighting to end.
Young people living in the Indigenous Anishinaabe First Nation of Grassy Narrows in northwestern Ontario are fighting for a healthy future for themselves and their community. Over the past 50 years, toxic mercury has poisoned rivers and fish vital to Grassy Narrows. Because of government inaction, generations of young people have grown up with devastating health problems and the loss of their cultural traditions.
This year, Amnesty International is urging everyone to help demand justice for Grassy Narrows through the Write for Rights campaign by writing letters calling on the Canadian government to fully address the mercury crisis and end 50 years of human rights violations.
What: Press conference with youth from the Ontario First Nation of Grassy Narrows and Amnesty International
Date: Monday, Nov. 4, 2019
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Thunderbird House, 715 Main St., Winnipeg, MB
Media contact: Lucy Scholey, Media Relations, Amnesty International Canada (English branch), 613-744-7667 ext. 236, lscholey@amnesty.ca