First Nations Trough the Eyes of a Child

7/31/2019 First Nations Trough the Eyes of a Child

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Throughthe

EyesofaChild

First Nation ChildrensEnvironmental Health

Union of Ontario Indians

Anishinabek Health Secretariat

2009


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First Nation ChildrensEnvironmental Health

Union o Ontario IndiansAnishinabek Health Secretariat

2009


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DedicationTo amilies and their children who have learned rom experience the need or guarding againstenvironmental hazards.

ForewordThis manual looks at some o the environmental issues that are aecting First Nation children onand o reserve. The inormation provided is intended to support service providers in addressing theenvironmental health concerns o their clients in a manner that is culturally sensitive and strengthbased.


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Acknowledgement

Partnerships:

The Union o Ontario Indians Anishinabek Health Secretariat would like to thank the Best Start Resource Centre at Health

Nexus or its contribution to the development o this manual, and or its interest in First Nation approaches toenvironmental risks to child health in Ontario. We wish to express our deep appreciation to Wendy Burgoynerom Health Nexus or her tremendous support and expert guidance which helped acilitate the process.

Additional thanks are given to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Program overseeing the project and the Ministry oChildren and Youth Services who also supported this project.

Research:

The Union o Ontario Indians Anishinabek Health Secretariat grateully acknowledges the ollowing individuals or providing

technical inormation and cultural support: Sister Priscilla Solomon, Nadine Roach, Jake Swamp, Gordon Waindubence, JosephineMandamin, Ken Tabobondung, Bill Rideout, Ed Desson, Ron Plain, Stephen Odjig, Sue Chiblow, Gloria Daybutch, LorrileeMcGregor, Jo McQuarrie, Karen Linklater, Rebecca Martell and Ken Jock.

The Union o Ontario Indians would like to express our sincere appreciation to Holly Brodhagen, or her role in the research andwriting o this manual.

The Union o Ontario Indians would like to thank Kathleen Cooper (Senior Researcher at the Canadian Environmental LawAssociation, and Chair o the Coordinating Committee o the Canadian Partnership or Childrens Health and Environment) orgenerously completing a technical review during the development o this resource, to provide guidance concerning the scienticcontent, which ensured that the scientic inormation is current, clear and accurate.

We also wish to express our tremendous appreciation to all o the First Nation amilies who generously submitted beautiulphotographs o their children, reminding us o the true inspiration or this project.

Disclaimer

The inormation and opinions contained within this manual represent the views o the author and the Union o Ontario Indiansand is not ocially endorsed by the Government o Ontario. While the participation o advisory members and key inormantswas critical to the development o this resource, nal decisions were made by the Union o Ontario Indians.


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Ahnii-Boozhoo Kina Waya!

(Greetings Everyone)

At the time of Creation, Anishinaabe was given the responsibility to protect

and look after Shkagamikwe, our Mother Earth. This was established in the

form of a sacred covenant. As Anishinaabes descendants, we, the

Anishinabek are stewards of the land, the water and the air. We carry this

responsibility to this day.

We believe Mother Earth is the foundation of our people: the Anishinabek

Nation. We regard every part of her as sacred. She is our historian, the keeper

of events. She provides us with food, medicine, shelter and clothing. She is

the source of our independence. We know that through the cord of life, all of

humanity is connected to her. The well-being of our people today and

generations to come, are directly related to our ability to live in balance andharmony with her.

We are deeply concerned that our Earth has become a vulnerable and abused

place. Her magnificent forests have been rapaciously felled, her rivers and

oceans polluted and her delicate atmosphere is contaminated. Unfortunately,

our children and our elders are among those most vulnerable and like many

indigenous nations, who live so close to the land, our people have begun to

experience the ill effects of an unhealthy environment.

Through the creation of the First Nation Childrens Environmental Health

Manual, we have identified some of the most critical environmental health

issues currently affecting our children today. We wish to express our sincere

appreciation to Best Start Resource Centre at Health Nexus for creating anopportunity to give voice to our concerns and most importantly, identifying

strategies to help individuals, communities and nations to initiate change.

We invite all native people to join with us and reclaim their sacred

responsibility as stewards of the land. Let us work together to preserve the

Earth, to respect all life and to evolve new strategies for our survival.

Chi-miigwetch,

John Beaucage

Grand Council Chief

Anishinabek Nation


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Table of ContentsIntroduction .........................................................................................................................................................................8

Medicine Wheel ...................................................................................................................................................................9

Vulnerability o Children .....................................................................................................................................................12Environmental Health Concerns or Children .......................................................................................................................13

Air ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Tobacco use .............................................................................................................................................................27

Pesticide and Herbicide Use ......................................................................................................................................30

Household Chemicals ...............................................................................................................................................32

Earth ................................................................................................................................................................. 35

Food Source Contamination .....................................................................................................................................38

Soil Contamination ..................................................................................................................................................41

Waste Management .................................................................................................................................................43

Housing ...................................................................................................................................................................45

Fire .................................................................................................................................................................... 51

Heating Sources .......................................................................................................................................................53

Emissions rom Combustion .....................................................................................................................................56

Water ................................................................................................................................................................ 59

Water Contamination ...............................................................................................................................................62

Breasteeding ...........................................................................................................................................................68

Fishing .....................................................................................................................................................................70

Policy and Program Implications .........................................................................................................................................72

Resource List ......................................................................................................................................................................75

Appendix ...........................................................................................................................................................................84

KanianKehaka (Mohawk) Prayer o Thanksgiving: A Good Morning Message/Prayer ............................................................88

Handouts ...........................................................................................................................................................................89


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IntroductionOur mother is very sick and when shes sick she cant take care o her children. It is now up to our young people tocarry on with what we are doing and saying about the state o our Mother Earth. Men, women, and children must workhand-in-hand, together, on this problem. (Quote by Josephine Mandamin in an interview with Kalvin Perron, 2005)

Children are sacred gits rom the Creator. They are the ruit o generations that came beore and represent the seeds outure generations. Unortunately, children are being exposed to increasing amounts o environmental pollution and hazards.Environmental hazards impact the health o men and women including their ability to conceive. Continued exposure tocontaminants through pregnancy and early childhood can aect the development and health o the child. Science is demonstratinglinks between exposures to contaminants and increasing negative health outcomes including birth deects, cancers, respiratoryillnesses and developmental disabilities.

Interviews with First Nation service providers in the elds o health, social and environmental services as well as existingliterature demonstrate that First Nation people are aware o the environmental and health concerns acing their children.The identied areas o signicant concern include disruptions in the ood chain, changes in cultural and traditional liestyles,

water quality, and exposure to contaminants through air, ood, water and soil. The impact o these environmental hazards onindividual childrens health is the same or the First Nation and non-native population; however the risk o exposure to certainenvironmental concerns is higher in some First Nation communities.

First Nation people have been identied as a vulnerable population when it comes to environmental exposures. Their close tiesto the land, lower socio-economic position, lower education levels, and cultural practices make them among the rst to eel theeects o environmental hazards. Lower socio-economic status leads to more overcrowding in homes, residence in lower incomeareas, substandard housing and reliance on unhealthy ood sources. Education level is directly related to the socio-economiccondition and a persons ability to understand and respond to the complex environmental issues aecting their health. Culturalpractices rely heavily on the connection with the environment. These practices may be disrupted when the environment changesthrough global warming and migration o contaminants.

This manual looks at some o the environmental issues that are aecting First Nation children on and o reserve. The inormationprovided is intended to support service providers in addressing the environmental health concerns o their clients in a mannerthat is culturally sensitive and strength based.


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Medicine WheelWe have to go through all the elements o Air, Water, Earth and Fire in our lie cycle. They are all interconnected andhave a purpose. ~Elder Gordon Waindubence, 2008

The Medicine Wheel has been used by First Nation people since time immemorial to teach about all aspects o lie and nature.The Medicine Wheel demonstrates how all things interconnect and are bound to each other in the circle o lie. Although theteachings may vary rom cultural group to cultural group, the undamental concepts o balance and harmony do not change.

This manual uses the our elements o Earth, Air, Water and Fire to organize and explain the environmental concerns acingFirst Nation amilies. Each o these elements relies upon the other to ensure its health and well-being. When one element isnegatively impacted the repercussions are elt by all the elements. Particular attention must be paid to those environmentalhazards that, by their very nature, or because o how they are used by the broader society, negatively impact two or moreelements o the interconnected wheel.

An example:

Air pollution becomes soil and water pollution when airborne particulates mix with rain and all to the earth and to ourlakes and rivers. The contaminants are absorbed into the soil and aect plant growth or move into the aquatic oodchain. They will also leach rom soil into groundwater sources. The water or plants are consumed by animals, whichare later consumed by other animals or humans. When contaminated products or natural vegetation are burnt eitherthrough industrial burning, home heating or orest res, they release the contaminants back into the air and the cyclingcontinues.

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Under each o these elements, environmental risks associated with the element are dened and discussed. Teachings providedby traditional elders are used to explain how First Nation people are connected to the element, how they are aected and theimpact they have upon the environment, including what they can do to address environmental risks.

The Medicine Wheel teaches about how balance and harmony are necessary to lie. It introduces the our aspects that make upa human being (mental, emotional, physical and spiritual) as well as the lie cycle o the individual and nation. These teachingsare closely linked to the elements o Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The cycle o lie rom conception to death ollows the same pathas the teachings o the elements and harmony. The ideal is a system o balance where each interconnected element is respectedand treated with the honour that First Nations were taught at the beginning o time.

First Nation people are the environment. We are not separate. We refect the state o our world.~ Ken Tabobondung, 2007

It is through the very teachings o the Medicine Wheel that First Nation people can nd solutions to the environmental issuesacing their communities. Through the understanding o the interconnectedness o all the elements and the necessity or balance,First Nations can take the steps to make changes to their health and well-being.

It is believed by the Elders interviewed that it is the uture o the youth to nd ways to connect traditional knowledge withmodern science in order to create positive change. It is elt that although the youth are in a state o conusion about their rolesand responsibilities, with the help and guidance o elders they will learn how to care or Mother Earth and stop the abuse. Byunderstanding that as caretakers o the Earth, they must have respect or everything that contributes to their lie and when theysee a wrong being done, they must go and correct it. This responsibility does not just all only to the youth o today but to thegenerations to come.


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Importance of Children to First NationsLonghouse Teaching:

About a 1,000 years ago, there was a Peacemaker who came to our people when our people were ghting amongst

themselves. The Peacemaker came and went to all the people and he convinced them that the violence must stop.Ater many years o working with them they nally agreed to stop the ghting. In order or the Peacemaker to havethem remember what they promised he said that they were going to plant a tree o peace and they are going to buryall their weapons underneath that tree. Thats when he made the predictions to them, he said: Now all o you leadersthat have accepted in all the Nations, that you have to stand in a circle around this tree or the day will come as thesewhite roots that come rom the bottom o this tree, they will go in the our directions. And they are supposed to spreadthe peace. He said: It is going to go good or a very long period o time but the day will come when a people willarrive that they will not understand what that root means and so instead they will become araid o it and then they aregoing to take sharp objects and they are going to hack at these roots. And then at that time the tree is going to startto all. Join your hands tightly together, or when that time comes that tree is going to land on your arms and you haveto hold it up. And you are going to be burdened with this weight, this heaviness. It is going to be in those times whenmany, many children will be born and some o them will look in your directions and they are going to notice how tired

you are burdened with this weight. That is when all those children are going to say to themselves, Lets go help them,lets go raise that tree again. And many o them will come running, they are going to put their shoulders underneaththat tree and it will rise one more time but it will be or the last time.

~Prophecy shared by Elder Jake Swamp, 2008

The passing on o traditional teachings and knowledge to children means giving them an identity. Identity is important or themto understand their responsibility to Mother Earth.

Elder Gordon Waindubence emphasizes the importance o giving our children their identity early in lie so they grow up withthe knowledge.

My partner is a teacher. I always told her that she needs to give them identity. One day she asked me to come and talkto her class about culture. I didnt know what I was going to say or do since the children were barely walking. Couldthey understand anything I would say? They were so young I might have their attention or 10 minutes.

I brought my drum, my shaker and my medicines. I began by putting the drum in the middle o the foor. The childreninvestigated the drum. They beat it with their hands and sticks. They began to sing their songs. My partner had beenteaching them about the drum and songs. When they became bored with the drum, I brought out my shaker. Theytouched it, put it in their mouth and beat the drum with it. They again began to sing their song. Ater about 10 minutes,they were losing interest so I brought out my medicines. I started a smudge and put it in the middle o the foor. Againthey touched and smelt it. Then they started to move the smoke over their bodies. They scooped it with their hands and

pushed it over their bodies. These children had their identity. They knew where they came rom.

~Paraphrase o Elder Gordon Waindubence, 2008


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Vulnerability of ChildrenGreater Exposure and Sensitive Lie Stages

There are three basic dierences that set children apart rom adults with regard to exposure and eects o environmental

contaminants. These dierences are physiological, developmental and behavioural. Children also live longer than adults with theresult that children are exposed or a longer period o time than adults with exposure occurring during sensitive developmentalstages (Canadian Partnership or Childrens Health and Environment - CPCHE, 2005). Currently, a First Nation emale has a lieexpectancy o 76.6 years while a First Nation male has a lie expectancy o 68.9 years (First Nation and Inuit Health Canada,2007). This means up to 77 years o exposure and reaction time i the prenatal stage is taken into consideration.

The most basic dierence between children and adults is that children are still developing. In the womb and throughoutchildhood, there is constant growth and development with many dierent windows o vulnerability. Exposure to contaminantsmay cause harm that would be unlikely to aect a ully developed adult. Pregnancy is the most vulnerable time and dierentrisks occur at dierent stages o the pregnancy. For example, prior to conception, exposure to contaminants may aect ertilityand egg/sperm quality. Prenatal exposures, where contaminants pass through the placenta, have the potential to interere withhealthy development leading to possible birth deects in early pregnancy or harming later brain unction i exposure occurs

during late pregnancy. Vulnerability continues rom birth and throughout childhood, even into adolescence as childrens bodiescontinue many dierent developmental processes.

Behavioural dierences can increase a childs exposure to contaminants. Children depend on adults to make important decisionsregarding the household, ood and activities, which may expose them to dierent levels o contaminants. Children spend a greatdeal o time close to the ground where there can be increased exposure to pesticides and contaminants in soil or dust as wellas air pollutants that tend to concentrate nearer the ground in a childs breathing zone. Children explore their world through allo their senses including tasting and touching. This behaviour puts them at risk o coming into contact with contaminants in soilor indoor dust, household chemicals and pesticides. Older children have a wider range o exploration and can come into contactwith additional contaminants through outdoor play and recreational activities.

Compared to adults, children consume larger quantities o ood and water per unit o body weight. They also breathe aster thanmost adults and their lungs have a comparatively smaller (and still developing) internal surace area. These dierences exposethem to larger quantities o any contaminants contained in air, ood or water. Since children spend up to 90% o their timeinside, indoor exposure are a big concern. These can include tobacco smoke, pesticides, household chemicals or contaminantsthat are shed rom normal wear and tear such as lead in old paint or fame retardants rom many dierent consumer products.There may also be biological hazards such as mould and pet dander. Recreational activities pose hazards rom the chemicalsused in swimming pools, exhaust gas ound in ice rinks and exposure to chemicals in art supplies.

Physiological dierences between children and adults can result in a child being more exposed to contaminants at times whenthe body is least able to cope with them. Through breathing, eating and drinking, skin contact, metabolism and digestion achilds body can react dierently than an adult. The liver does not develop the adult capacity to lter toxic substances rom theblood until at least six months o age. The kidneys, also a ltering mechanism or the body, are not ully developed until children

reach the age o about 16 months. Absorption o contaminants also varies. For example, a childs body will absorb approximately50-90% o ingested lead while adults only absorb about 10% o ingested lead (Toronto Public Health - TPH, 2005). An inantsskin is more permeable and will absorb more contaminants than an adult. O major concern, the immature blood-brain barriero a child continues to develop or at least the rst three years o lie making the early years o rapid brain development also atime o high vulnerability to contaminant exposures.


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Reproductive and Developmental ToxicantsReproductive toxicants can aect the development and health o the reproductive systems o men and women especiallythe production and release o sperm and ova and the process o ertilization. Men are susceptible to reproductive toxicantsthroughout their lives since sperm development is an on-going process. Women develop and produce their total ova while inutero and are also susceptible to reproductive toxicants throughout their lives, especially during early pregnancy (CPCHE, 2006;Environmental Deence, 2006). Eects o reproductive toxicants can include changes in sexual behaviour, lower sperm count andlower quality sperm, decreased ertility and gestation time, decreased lactation, irregular menstruation, and negative pregnancyoutcomes including miscarriage and stillbirth.

Developmental toxicants overlap somewhat with reproductive toxicants since they can also adversely aect a developing embryoor etus. Exposure to developmental toxicants can result in spontaneous abortions or stillbirths, low birth weight, pretermdelivery, birth deects, vision, hearing and intellectual decits, chromosomal abnormalities as well as seriously debilitatingconditions such as cerebral palsy (TPH, 2005, CPCHE, 2005).Chemicals known or suspected o being reproductive and developmental toxicants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),PBDEs, lead, mercury, organic solvents, some pesticides, some phthalates and some air pollutants.

From1979to1999,thefertilityofCanadianwomenaged20to24decreasednearly40%,andfertilityamongthose aged 25 to 29 declined about 25% (Statistics Canada, 2008);

Womensinfertilityaccountsfor40%ofallfertilityproblemsandcanbelinkedtoendometriosis,ovulationdisorders,hormone imbalances, congenital abnormalities, and exposure to chemicals and radiation (Norris, 2001);

Mensinfertilityaccountsfor30-40%offertilityproblemsandislinkedtolowspermcount,lowqualityspermorthe inability to sexually unction (impotence).

Impact on First Nations

First Nation communities like Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia in southern Ontario, have linked environmentalcontaminants rom local industry to skewed sex ratios (more emales born than males). The Environmental Deence 2005 studyToxic Nation, ound 36 chemicals released to the local environment in Sarnia that have been linked to negative reproductiveand developmental outcomes. The chemicals released rom actories can be ound in communities located near industry such asurban centers, low income housing projects and in areas with natural resource production like those ound around many FirstNation communities.

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CarcinogensCarcinogens cause cancer, a condition o abnormal cell growth unregulated by normal mechanisms in the body. Known orsuspected carcinogens include some pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDES), several metals, polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs) and air pollutants such as diesel exhaust and other vehicle emissions and tobacco smoke.

Cancerinchildrenisrarebutincidenceofchildhoodcancerhasincreasedby20-25%sincethe1970sinlargercountries such as the United States and in the European Union;

WhilecancerisrareandnotincreasingamongchildreninCanada,severalcancersarerisingsignicantlyamongyoung adults raising concerns about early lie exposures, including during sensitive stages o etal development(CPCHE, 2005);

Onaverage,3,075Canadianswillbediagnosedwithcancereveryweek; Onaverage,1,398Canadianswilldieofcancereveryweek(CanadianCancerSociety,2008).

Impact on First Nations

Overall cancer rates or First Nation people are lower than the mainstream population but higher levels o tobacco use andexposure to environmental toxicants are linked with increasing incidences o lung and colon cancer.

High Dose vs. Low Dose ExposureMost research conducted on chemicals occurs in high dose clinical animal trials and is based on adult exposures. While somestudies look at low dose exposures or immature lie stages in animal tests, much uncertainty exists in predicting eects on adeveloping human etus or child, especially the complex human brain. Biomonitoring o the general population has demonstratedthat most individuals carry a body burden o low concentrations o numerous contaminants. Quite consistently, levels in children

are ound to be higher than levels in adults.

Most individuals will not come into contact with high dose levels o contaminants. The health impacts o low dose, multipleexposures over the long-term are not easily recognized or understood. It is dicult to replicate real lie situations o chemicalexposures and monitor the eects o a single chemical, or especially multiple chemicals, on the body since or each chemicalthere are oten multiple avenues o exposure. Low dose studies are needed to determine possible subtle impacts o exposure onetal and child development as well as long-term impacts that may aect individuals later in lie (Environmental Deence, 2006;Canadian Environmental Law Association and Pollution Probe, 2004).

Biomonitoring can help to identiy chemicals and contaminants o concern and vulnerable populations. The human body cannaturally break down some contaminants over time but continuous and multiple exposures limit the ability o the body tothoroughly clean out contaminants. Persistent chemicals will tend to move into long term storage in the body, generally in at

(e.g., organic pollutants such as PCBs) or bone (e.g., metals such as lead) and can re-mobilize during pregnancy, lactation orsignicant weight loss. Lowering the body burden on an individual level requires minimizing exposure to contaminants andreducing or eliminating the contaminants in the environment. Breasteeding can reduce the body burden o the mother butwill pass contaminants to the inant through breastmilk. Although breasteeding remains the best nutritional option or inants,studies are needed to determine exposure levels and transmission o contaminants (Nickerson, 2006). The main ocus should beon reducing the contaminants in the environment including industry, household products, personal hygiene products and oodsources (Environmental Deence, 2006).


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Male Birth Dearth Persists on Ontario Reserve

A small native community living in the shadows o Sarnias chemical valley has had an unusual distinction: Researchersbelieve it has one o the most skewed sex ratios in the world.

For reasons that are not known, the percentage o male births in the community, known as the AamjiwnaangFirst Nation, began to all precipitously in the mid-1990s. By 2003, newborn girls outnumbered boys by about 2 to 1.

It was a dramatic reversal o what is considered normal in human populations-a modest excess o male births-the trendthat had previously prevailed on the reserve.

New gures on the reserves birth rates presented yesterday at a conerence in Sarnia indicate that the extento the male birth dearth may be diminishing, although only slightly. In 2004, equal numbers o boys and girls were born,the rst time since the mid-1990s that the reserve has had a birth ratio approaching normal. The next year, however, thenumber o baby girls once again exceeded boys. Figures or 2006 are not yet available.

Margaret Keith, one o the researchers who compiled the data, cautioned in the interview that annual gurescomparing the number o male to emale births in the small population can be volatile, but the longer-term trend toewer male births seems to be persisting.

Because we only have a yearwhere it doesnt look to ar o, I just think its too early to draw any conclusionsthat the area is returning to normal birth ratio, said Ms. Keith, a researcher at the Sarnia oce o the OccupationalHealth Clinics or Ontario Workers.

She said that over the past ve years; only 42 per cent o births have been male, well under the national gureo 51.2 per cent. While she said she hopes the birth data will revert to normal to me, it looks like the trend is stillthere.

The unusual birth ratio in the community, which has major petrochemical plants on two sides and is downwindo high-polluting U.S. power plants, has attracted world-wide attention. There is an international trend observed inmany industrialized countries, including Canada, the United States, the Netherlands and Japan, to lower-than-expectedpercentages o male births, although the drop in large populations is very slight.

Nonetheless, the observation that the birth ratio is changing has uelled speculation that long-term exposureto pollutants rom industries might be a actor. Many researchers have been looking to the reserve or clues about thetrend because it is a small community that is easy to study where residents are likely to have above-average exposureto many synthetics chemicals.

At the conerence yesterday, organized by Aamjiwnaang and unded in part by Health Canada, experts saidthat the global trend to lower than expected numbers o male births is not ully understood, but its thought to be rmlyestablished because it is being observed simultaneously in so many dierent places.

This is a global issue. Its not something thats located either just in North America or or that matter in theSarnia area, said Warren Foster, director o the Centre or Reproductive Care at McMaster University. There is a weighto evidence that says that there is something going on.

He said the actors behind the trend are very poorly understood, but that this year it evidence has emergedlinking air pollutants and hormone exposures to these changes, among other actors.

Details on the sex ratio at Aamjiwnaang emerged in 2004, when residents o the community began remarkingthat they had no trouble elding girls sports teams while boys oten complained o not having riends o their sexnearby.

A peer-reviewed scientic study on the birth ratio, published the next year in Environmental Health Perspectivesand authored in part by Ms. Keith, estimated that there was only a 1-per-cent probability that the long period o lownumbers o male births compared with emales was a statistical fuke.

The sex ratio at a nearby reserve was ound to be normal, suggesting the Sarnia trend wasnt due to culturalor genetic actors.

Scientists have observed that over time, about 106 males are born or every 100 emales, a way that naturehas compensated or higher rates o mortality among boys.

Mittelstaedt, Martin. Male birth dearth persists on Ontario reserve. The Globe and Mail. 27 March, 2008: A8.

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A common theme rom interviews held with elders was the need or individuals to take responsibility or their impact on theenvironment, recognize their responsibilities to themselves, their children, their communities and to Mother Earth. Women bringnew lie and are the keepers o the water. Men are the protectors and are responsible or re. Elders are responsible or sharingthe teachings while the youth are responsible or learning and carrying on the traditions. Unortunately, many o these roleshave been disrupted which has resulted in an imbalance. In order to create positive change to better everyone and everything,this imbalance must be corrected. A return to the teachings and culture provides the oundation or this change, while learning,

adapting and implementing new ideas and technology will assist in correcting the problems acing individuals, communities, thenation and Mother Earth.

Mtis Response

It is recognized that Mtis culture, heritage and legal rights are distinct rom First Nation and Inuit culture. The experiences oMtis people regarding health outcomes and the impacts o environmental hazards would refect the uniqueness o their cultureand community. Attempts were made to include Mtis specic inormation in this manual including responses rom Mtis serviceproviders however interviews were not able to be completed in time or publication. Specic Mtis statistics and inormationhave been included throughout this manual however much o the inormation regarding specic community concerns refectFirst Nation statistics. As this is a airly new issue, we were unable to secure respondents who were able to clearly identiy Mtisspecic issues.

A lack o accurate data and research inormation impedes the ability o health organizations to determine the overall health andwell-being o Mtis people. Although Statistic Canada Aboriginal Peoples Surveys rom 1991 and 2001 data is considered themost inormative and accurate inormation available regarding Mtis people, there are concerns regarding the accuracy o thedata due to how the population is identied and enumerated (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2008). Health servicesare provided to Mtis people through the provincial and territorial governments at the same level as the non-native populationwith no identication process (exemption is the Northwest Territories) in place to assist in data collection or improvements inservices to Mtis people. Mtis people, like First Nation and Inuit, are aced with low socio economic status, lower educationlevels, and higher rates o illness and disease.


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First Nation StatisticsThe ollowing statistics have been compiled rom reports and publications by Health Canada, Statistics Canada and the CanadianInstitute o Health Inormation. Many o these statistics are nation-wide and ocus on First Nation people who are identiedunder the Indian Act. Recent statistics rom 2006 include some inormation on First Nation people that sel-identied as FirstNation.

Anestimated40%ofFirstNationpeople livedonreserve,whiletheremaining60%livedoffreserve.Theoff-reserve proportion was up slightly rom 58% in 1996;

Censusesinboth1996and2006foundthataboutthree-quarters(76%)oftheoff-reserveFirstNationspopulationlived in urban areas;

69%oftheMtispopulationresideinurbanareas(StatisticsCanada,2008); Ontarioandthewesternprovincescombinedaccountedforanestimated577,300FirstNationspeople,or83%

o this groups total population. About 158,395, or 23%, lived in Ontario (Statistics Canada, 2008); 389,785peoplereportedthemselvesasMtiswith73,605residinginOntario(StatisticsCanada,2008); Childrenandyouthaged24andundermadeupalmostone-half(48%)ofallFirstNationpeople,comparedwith

31% o the non-Native population. About 9% o the First Nation population was aged 4 and under, nearly twice

the proportion o 5% o the non-Native population. Similarly, 10% o the First Nation population was aged 5 to9, compared with only 6% o the non-Native population (Statistics Canada, 2008); 25%oftheMtispopulationareunder14yearsofage(StatisticsCanada,2008); ChildrenandyouthmadeupaparticularlylargeshareoftheFirstNationpopulationinseveralurbanareasthat

were home to a large number o First Nation people; In2006,themajorityofFirstNationchildrenaged14andunder(58%)livedwithbothparents,while29%lived

with a lone mother and 6%, with a lone ather; FirstNationchildrenaretwiceaslikelyasnon-nativechildrentoliveinmultiple-familyhouseholds; Overthepastdecade,theproportionofFirstNationpeoplelivingincrowdedhomeshasdeclined.In2006,11%

o First Nation people lived in homes with more than one person per room, down rom 17% in 1996. At the sametime, nearly one in our lived in homes requiring major repairs in 2006, unchanged rom 1996. Overall, First Nationpeople were almost our times as likely as non-native people to live in a crowded dwelling. They were three times

as likely to live in a dwelling in need o major repairs (Statistics Canada, 2008); Type2diabetesis3to5timeshigheramongFirstNationspeople(FirstNationandInuitHealth,2005); 6%oftheMtispopulationreporteddiabetes(StatisticsCanada,2001); Tuberculosisinfectionratesare8to10timeshigher(FirstNationandInuitHealth,2005); Exceptformaleprostatecancer,FirstNationscancermortalityratesarelowerthanthosefortheoverallCanadian

population. Acute myocardial inarction (AMI) rates among First Nations are about 20% higher than the Canadianrate, and stroke rates among First Nations are almost twice as high as the comparable Canadian gure (FirstNation and Inuit Health, 2008);

ThemostcommoncausesofdeathforFirstNationspeopleaged1to44yearswereinjuryandpoisoning.Amongchildren under 10 years, deaths were primarily classied as unintentional (accidental) (Statistics Canada, 2008);

Accordingtothe2001CensusofCanada,on-reserveRegisteredIndiansratelowerthanthegeneralCanadian

population on all educational attainment indicators, including secondary school completion rates, post-secondaryeducation admissions and completion o university degrees (First Nation and Inuit Health, 2008); In2000/01,98.2%ofFirstNationshomeswereevaluatedashavinganadequatewater supply (First Nation and

Inuit Health, 2008); InfantmortalityratesaretwicetothreetimesashighinFirstNationsandInuitcommunities(Canadian Institute

o Health Inormation, 2008); Ratesofdiabetes(largelyasaresultofobesity)arehigheramongFirstNationyouththanamongotheradolescents

(Canadian Institute o Health Inormation, 2008); Thereare633FirstNationsinCanada(AssemblyofFirstNations,2008); Thereare134FirstNationsinOntario(ChiefsofOntario,2008).

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The ollowing chart breaks down the registered First Nation population according to age and area o residence or Ontario(Indian and Northern Aairs Canada, 2008).

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

0-24

45.4%

31.7%

14.7 15.8

33.3

43.3%

6.6%

9.4%

25-34 35-64 65+

Registered Indian Population, by Type of Residence and Selected Age Groups, December 31, 2006

Age Group

On Reserve Off Reserve


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Noodin

Air23


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AirHe (Waynaboozhoo or Original Man) looked up into the sky and noticed that the clouds were feecy white, pure, andcold just like the snow at the tops o the mountains. He knew that high above the Earth there must be layers o air andelements that he had no name or. Nonetheless, he knew that something was up there that held it all together.

~Eddie Benton-Banai, 1988

Thanksgiving includes everything. Every lie orm is the same including the Air. We all know the importance that wehave to have clean air to breathe. Without it we know we are going to die. So we know that air is very important andthat we have to ensure that it is kept clean.

~Elder Jake Swamp, 2008

Air is necessary to all living beings. The our winds trade o to clean the air, bring the seasons and help with the cleansing othe earth.

The day will come when you look towards the sun and it is going to be hard to see the sun because there will be a

dark cloud hovering overhead. That means pollution that will make a shadow between you and the sun. We are seeingthis in some places in the world now.

~Prophecy shared by Elder Jake Swamp, 2008

Air pollution aects everyone no matter where or how they live. Air has no boundaries; it travels rom continent to continentwithout intererence. Along with the wind come the contaminants that are released into the Air by industry and people. Theelements o Earth, Water and Fire rely upon the Air to provide them with oxygen but they are also responsible to the Air. Treesand plants lter the air and clean it o toxicants, the water removes particles o contaminants rom the air and the Fire changesthe Air or use by plants.

The plants are going through hard times. We can see the eects o toxins in the browning o the tops o trees. Thetoxins in the air are taking away the plants ability to regenerate.

~ Ken Tabobondung, 2007

When Air becomes contaminated with pollution, it in turn contaminates the Earth, Water and Fire. When the other elements arenot able to deal with the oreign pollutants ound in the Air then they accumulate and add to the pollution burden across all theelements. Humans ingest, inhale and absorb these contaminants when we eat, drink, breathe and go about our daily lives.

Air is polluted by emissions rom industrial, residential and agricultural sources. The three areas o contamination identied inthis manual are through the use o tobacco, herbicides, pesticides and household chemicals.

Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollutants

Outdoor and indoor air quality varies according to the contaminants released into the air. The source o outdoor air contaminantsis generally air emissions rom industry particularly coal-red plants, ossil uel burning by individuals (ex. vehicles and residentialheating). These contaminants contribute to smog and smog alerts. Smog is a mixture o ground-level ozone, small particulatematter and other pollutants. On days when smog alerts are issued, residents are urged to remain indoors and to watch or anyhealth eects to vulnerable populations including children, the elderly or the chronically ill.


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Indoor air quality can also pose a threat to health. The sources o indoor air pollution include wood or gas stove emissions,building supplies, abric, and use o household chemicals, pesticides, cosmetic products and biological allergens such as petdander, mould and dust (Environmental Deence, 2006; CPCHE, 2005). The most researched indoor air pollutant that impactshealth is environmental tobacco smoke. There is a great deal o concern regarding the eect o indoor air quality on children,since children spend approximately 80 % o their time indoors whether at home, school or in recreational acilities (CPCHE,2005).

There is particular concern or vulnerable populations such as visible minorities and the poor regarding exposures through poorhousing, overcrowding and tobacco use.Children in low-income households are more likely to live in substandard housing that can oten contain elevated levels o lead,pesticides, mould, PBDEs and other contaminants (TPH, 2005). Low-income housing projects are oten located in close proximityto industrial sites and roadways which increases exposure to air pollutants.

Impact on First Nation Children

First Nation people are considered a vulnerable population. They are more likely to have poor health due to exposure to hazardsrelated to poverty, poor nutrition, lower education levels, and tobacco use. Most Aboriginal people are at or below the povertyline. In major western cities, our times as many Aboriginal people as other citizens are below the poverty line, (Indian andNorthern Aairs Canada, 2004). Smoking amongst First Nation people is approximately three times the rate o the generalpopulation and smoking amongst youth 15 to 17 is also three times the rate o the general population. Many First Nationcommunities are located close to identied pollution hotspots including acilities that release such contaminants as lead, arsenicand volatile organic compounds (Hing Man Chan, 2006; Environmental Deence, 2006).

Akwesasne First Nation (Southern Ontario) is located close to three industrial sites, which include automobile andaluminum manuacturers. Akwesasne has been addressing exposures to a number o industrial contaminants thathave aected the air, soil and water quality o their community. Community members are addressing health issuessuch as impairment o cognitive learning ability, early onset o puberty, asthma and diabetes. Elders and community

members have to travel outside o the community to harvest traditional medicines. The community ormed theAkwesasne Task Force on the Environment to address environmental concerns. Community eorts include campaignsto educate community members, legal action against industry to reduce emissions and monitoring the contaminants inthe community and in community members. For additional inormation, contact Akwesasne First Nation at 613-575-2250 or www.akwesasne.ca.

~Ken Jock, 2007

News Articles or Akwesasne First Nation:http://www.akwesasne.ca/news/ASPSP/index.html;http://ndarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYP/is_7_111/ai_105162048

Aamjiwnaang First Nation located close to Sarnia, Ontario is within 25 kilometres o 62 petrochemical plants. More

then 200 chemical by-products or pollutants have been identied in the community. Health eects range rom heartand respiratory problems to reproductive problems including increased miscarriages and skewed sex ratios (moreemales than males) (Poirier, 2007). The community has drawn attention to their environmental concerns by developingToxic Tours to introduce the media and politicians with the contaminants surrounding the community. Their story isknown internationally thanks to media coverage by well-known magazines and television like Chatelaine and CBC. Foradditional inormation, contact Aamjiwnaang First Nation at 519-336-8410 http://www.aamjiwnaang.ca/.

~Ron Plain, 2007


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News articles or Aamjiwnaang First Nation:http://www.environmentaldeence.ca/toxicnation/press/realeases/20060606.htm;http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2005/09/02/no_boys20050902.html;http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070423/rstnation_ratio_070423/20070423/

Tobacco use

The smoke rom Tobacco will carry your thoughts into the Spirit World. Its smoke will be your visible thoughts. Youmust use Tobacco when you want to speak with your Grandather, the Creator.


Tobacco is a sacred medicine given to First Nation people to communicate with the Creator. It is used in ceremony as an oeringto the Creator to communicate thoughts and prayers (Ken Tabobondung, 2007).

Ater contact, tobacco became a commodity. It was used or trade and quickly became a major economic contributor. It has

become a chemically altered commercialized product that is addictive, and is oten used to cope with stress, emotional upsetand to suppress hunger.

Beginning in the 1950s, studies have proven that Tobacco use increases the risk o lung cancer, respiratory disease such asemphysema, asthma, and bronchitis as well as incidence o cardio vascular disease (Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy, 2008). Thereare 4,000 chemicals contained within one cigarette, 50 o which are known to cause cancer. About 90% o the content ocigarettes is plant matter. The remaining 10% is a combination o chemicals and other additives, (Alberta Alcohol and DrugAbuse Commission, 2007). These chemicals and additives are added to alter the taste and smell o the tobacco and increasethe likelihood o addiction.

Second hand smoke exposes non-smokers to twice the level o nicotine and ve times the level o carbon monoxide as thesmoke inhaled by the smoker. Nicotine can be ound in the blood o pregnant women who are exposed to second-handsmoke, (Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, 2007). Second hand smoke can aect the growth and development oan unborn child by reducing the levels o oxygen and nutrients passed to the child by the mother. Children exposed to cigarettesmoke have an increased risk o Sudden Inant Death Syndrome, respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia(Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, 2007) and are twice as likely to become smokers in their adolescence and adultlie.

Women who smoke have an increased risk o ertility problems, as well as an increased risk o miscarriage, placental problemsin later pregnancy, stillbirth and preterm labour. Inants born to smokers have higher rates o nicotine dependency, lower birthweights and developmental as well as physical abnormalities (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2006). Men who smoke run therisk o erectile dysunction and ertility problems (problems with sperm). The health eects o smoking and second hand smokehave motivated some provinces and communities in Canada to ban smoking inside public spaces and in some cases in personal

vehicles when children are present.

The range o chemicals contained within a cigarette includes everything rom heavy metals to neurotoxicants. These chemicalsare linked to health eects such as cancer, reproductive problems, adverse impacts on brain development, respiratory illness,circulatory diseases and diabetes. Beyond the health eects o tobacco are also the socio-economic eects. The use o tobaccois an indicator o addictive behaviour. Its use is oten a link to additional addictive behaviour such as alcohol and drug abuse aswell as gambling. Any strategy aimed to reduce tobacco use must also address other addictive behaviours and provide strategiesor quitting (McKennitt, 2007).


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First Nation Statistics Sixtypercentofon-reserveFirstNationspeoplebetweentheagesof18and34smoke; Themajorityofon-reserveFirstNationspeoplewhosmoke(52%)startedsmokingbetweentheagesof13and

16 (First Nation and Inuit Health Canada, 2007);

RecentstatisticsindicatethattherateofsmokingamongFirstNationspeopleinCanada(59%)isstillapproximatelythree times the rate or the general Canadian population (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2006);

Among15-to17-year-old(FirstNation)adolescents,therateofsmokingamongboys(47%)andgirls(61%)isthree times the national rate (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2006);

11.6%oftheFirstNationpopulation(on-reserve)reportedasthma,slightlyhigherthanthe10.3%forthetotalpopulation (Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2001);

14.9%oftheMtispopulationreportedsufferingfromasthma(AboriginalPeoplesSurvey,2001); Amongoff-reserveFirstNationchildrenaged14and under living innon-reserveareas,allergies,asthmaand

ear inections or ear problems were the most commonly reported chronic conditions. Allergies were reported by15.5%, asthma by 12.1% and ear inections or ear problems by 9.8%.

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Traditional Tobacco UseTobacco is used by native people to represent the honesty that they carry in their hearts when words are to be spokenbetween two people or to the spirit world. When a request is made, a teaching is shared, a question is asked, or aprayer is oered, the tobacco travels ahead o the words so that honesty will be received in a kind and respectul way.

Tobacco was seen as a git rom the spirit world. To oer tobacco is to pay an ultimate respect to that which you areasking.(Ontario Federation o Indian Friendship Centres, undated)

First Nation people have a special relationship with tobacco. It is the rst medicine given to the people and it is oered whencommunicating with the Creator. To say that First Nation people must stop using tobacco would be asking them to eliminate acritical and oundational component o traditional culture.

Stop smoking campaigns have traditionally been designed to stop the overall impact o tobacco including exposure throughsecond hand smoke. Most o these campaigns ail to take into consideration the cultural application o this medicine. There mustbe a distinction between traditional tobacco and commercial tobacco (McKennitt, 2007). The campaign: Tobacco Wise by theAboriginal Tobacco Strategy integrates the stop smoking message with an understanding o the healing nature o traditional

tobacco use. This campaign is intended to educate the general public as well as First Nation youth about the importance otobacco to First Nation culture, while providing valuable inormation regarding the health eects o commercial tobacco use.

Traditional tobacco is used in its natural orm. No additives have been used during growth or ater the harvest to improve color,taste or smell. It is grown in a sacred manner and is used in a sacred manner such as oerings and ceremonies. The growing otraditional tobacco and caring or the plant brings into ocus the teachings o the sacred medicine (Ken Tabobondung, 2007).Medicinal blends such as kinnick kinnick are considered a sacred blend o various medicines harvested to create the sacredmixture. As a result, the harvested blends do not contain the commercially produced mixture o nicotine and carcinogens (LaurieMcLeod-Shabogesic, 2008). Commercial tobacco has many chemicals added to improve its marketability and is not grown orcared or in a traditional way. Although it can be used in ceremonies, it is commonly used as an addictive substance. There hasbeen a resurgence o communities that grow their traditional tobacco and some eorts are being made to protect traditionaltobacco rom extinction (ex. ormer Traditional Native American Tobacco Seed Bank and Education Program rom the University

o Mexico).

When a person is having strong eelings, they use what they have. They will break that tip o a cigarette (removing thepaper and lter to gain access to the tobacco). It does not take away rom the sacredness o the re and prayer.

~Paraphrase rom Ken Tabobondung, 2008

We dont know the state o the mind o the person when they prepared their tobacco bundles. We dont know whatthey are thinking. I know how to take care o the tobacco when I receive it.

~Paraphrase rom Elder Gordon Waindubence, 2008

By bringing into ocus the sacredness o this plant and its ability to heal through ceremony and medicine, First Nation childrenlearn that smoking is abusing this plant. Parents, teachers and community leaders have to make children aware o the harmo commercial tobacco and revitalize its traditional use (Ken Tabobondung, 2007). This includes positive role modeling by notsmoking or using commercial tobacco products, including chew and snu, and protecting the traditional use o this sacredmedicine (McKennitt, 2007).

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Strategies

Service Providers

Usetoolsprovidedby your localhealthcentre,governmentorotherhealthagenciestoassistindevelopingacommunity anti-smoking campaign. Some tools are included on the First Nation and Inuit Health website athttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/nih-spni/substan/tobac-tabac/commun/index_e.html;

BeawareoftobaccofactwebsitesandcurrentstrategiesbeingusedacrossCanadatoaddresstobaccoaddiction,policies and cessation programs. For instance,http://www.tobaccoacts.org,http://www.tobaccowise.com,http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/;

ChallengeFirstNationstaffandleadershiptosetanexampleforthecommunity; Eliminatethesponsorshipofeventsorprogramsbytobaccocompaniesortheirassociates; Sponsor in-house cessation programs that provide support to staff and community members to reduce and

eliminate the use o tobacco products;

Promoteandprotectthesacreduseoftobaccothroughceremony,posterandawarenesscampaigns; Provideuptodateinformationaboutthehealtheffectsofcommercialtobaccoproducts; Create education campaigns for youngchildrenwith the intent of reducing the incidence of tobacco use in

adolescence and adulthood; Createandsupportcessationprogramsaimedatadolescents,whichincludecomponentstoaddresspeerpressure,

role modeling and addictive behaviours; Completecommunityresearchthatidentiestobaccousebyyouthandfamilies.Gatherinformationaboutchildrens

perceptions, the purpose o tobacco use (traditional vs. recreational), suggestions or cessation programs, stressactors and any other actors that contribute to the use and possible cessation o tobacco use by communitymembers;

Lobbygovernmentforstricterregulationsonthechemicalsusedintobaccoproductsandmoreaccountabilityof

manuacturers regarding advertisements promoting smoking; LobbytheFirstNationleadershipforthedevelopmentofpoliciesandprocedurestoregulateandlimitthenumbero tobacco-based businesses in your community;

DevelopandpromotepoliciesandguidelinesattheFirstNationlevelthatbansmokinginpublicplaces; Monitorandregulatetobaccousageinthecommunitythroughthesellingoftobaccoproducts; PursuepartnershipswithotherFirstNationsaddressingtheissue; Supportregionalandnationalinitiativestoaddresstobacco-relatedissues; Lobbynativeleadershiptobecomeengagedwithothernativeandnon-nativeagenciesstrivingtoaddressthis

issue; Clearlydeneandpromotethedifferencesbetweentraditionalandnon-traditionaluseoftobacco.Ensurethat

traditional use o tobacco is promoted and protected rom misuse or abuse.

Pesticide and Herbicide UseIndividuals are exposed to pesticides and herbicides through direct and indirect exposure. Direct exposure occurs whenindividuals are within the immediate area o use such as armers, proessional applicators and residential users. Indirect exposureoccurs when individuals live close to areas where pesticides are used to manage vegetation or pests such as managed orests,


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agricultural areas and parks. Indirect exposure also occurs when pesticides or herbicides enter the air, water, soil and wildliethrough air currents during spraying, run-o rom agriculture and orestry as well as consumption o contaminated vegetationand water by wildlie or domesticated animals. Ed Desson (2007) with the Anishinabek Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre statedthat a recent study showed high levels o toxaphene in sh in the Lake Nipigon area. It is believed that the toxaphene is comingrom Mexico on the jet stream.

Some pesticides and herbicides have been linked to health eects such as cancer, respiratory disease, birth deects, adverseimpacts on brain development, and reproductive problems (Ontario College o Family Physicians- OCFP, 2004). Some o theolder pesticides that are either banned or severely restricted are persistent organic pollutants which means that they do notbreak down over time. For example, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) was banned in most countries in the 1960s andyet traces o this pesticide continue to be ound in people, including in children born long ater it was banned (EnvironmentalDeence, 2006).

The Canadian government through the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) regulates the approval and use o allpesticides, including ungicide, herbicides, insecticide and antimicrobials within Canadian borders. Provincial governments areresponsible or licensing, transportation, permits, spills and accidents as well as compliance and enorcement o their regulations.Many municipalities also have the power to pass by-laws regulating pesticide and herbicide use.

Pesticide manuacturers are required to provide data to the PMRA that demonstrates that their product is o acceptable riskand also eective at controlling the target pest. It is important to note the pesticides and herbicides are never deemed sae.Rather, regulatory evaluations determine acceptable risk and the intention remains or these products to kill a living being.The PMRA applies uncertainty actors during evaluation o scientic evidence about product risks. These uncertainty actors areapplied in an attempt to take into consideration the dierences between animals and humans as well as adults and children(Pest Management Regulatory Agency, 2007).

Children can be exposed to pesticides and herbicides through:

inhalationofairpollutantsandingestionofpesticidesthatcancontaminatehousedust; skincontactwithpesticidesandherbicidesusedinhomesandrecreationalareas; ingestionofpesticideresiduesonfoodssuchasfruits,vegetables,meat,dairyproductsandprocessedfoods.

The health concerns or children linked to pesticide use include poisoning (through accidental consumption or contact), thyroidproblems, hormone disruption, cancer and developmental and intellectual deects (OCFP, 2004). The impact can be due toexposure during sensitive developmental stages during pregnancy, in early childhood or other windows o vulnerability. Theimpact o low-level exposure over the rest o a persons lietime is poorly researched.


The eects o pesticides and herbicides on First Nation children are similar to their eects on the general population. A ewnoticeable dierences are the reliance o First Nation people on a more traditional diet o wild meats and the use o traditional

medicines. In regions where vast areas are sprayed or orestry operations or agriculture, wild animals may consume contaminatedplants and water. These animals accumulate the chemicals within their bodies and First Nations consume these animals (Ship,1997). Traditional medicines are being harmed through the use o herbicides and ungicides aimed at reducing the growth ounwanted weeds, shrubs and brush. When traditional medicines such as yarrow and sumac are used, the chemicals are ingested,absorbed, or inhaled. It is not clear how many o these chemicals enter the human system through these avenues but similarexposures through the ood chain have demonstrated the health eects o low-dose consumption o pesticides.


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Strategies

Service Providers

Reduceoreliminate theuseofchemicalpesticidesandherbicidesinyourworkplace.Lobbyemployerstousenatural alternatives; Ifusingpesticidesor herbicidesensureproducts retaintheiroriginal label,that label instructionsarecarefully

ollowed, and the areas o use are well ventilated and cleaned aterward; Promotetheuseoforganicfruitsandvegetables,dairyandmeatproductsbyprovidinginformationregardinglocal

growers or armers that meet organic requirements. Serve organic ood at community unctions and meetings withposters displaying the organic choice;

Promote the use of organic community gardens including staff participation through volunteering, nancialsponsorship or advertising;

Keepuptodateinformationonthepesticideandherbicideuseoflocalfarmersandforestrycompaniesavailableor clients. Research the health eects o these particular pesticides and herbicides. Provide the inormation to yourlocal health sta to ensure that health eects linked to their use are properly diagnosed and monitored;

Developcommunity researchmodels that track health effects that are linked topesticide and herbicide use,especially or communities that are located near orestry operations, agricultural areas and recreational areas suchas gol courses;

Lobbyallgovernmentlevelstotakeanotoleranceapproachtopesticideandherbicideuse.Thismeansstricterresearch requirements or companies showing zero health eects rom their products including inert or inactiveingredients;

Lobbyall levels ofgovernment for bans onchemicalpesticide and herbicide use in forestry, recreation andagricultural areas as well as household cosmetic use.

Household ChemicalsThe health o the mother beore conception is important to the health o her children. Individuals come into contact with a never-ending stream o environmental contaminants on a daily basis. In act, by the time the average woman grabs her morningcoee; she has spritzed, sprayed and lathered with 126 dierent chemicals in nine dierent products (Environmental Deence,2006). Chemicals are ound in everything rom clothes, urniture, dishes, ood packaging and household cleaners. Many amiliesare unaware o the toxicants that can be ound in plastics, building supplies, home decorating products, childrens toys, and evenpersonal hygiene products. Some o the most recent concerns are the use o bisphenol A (hormone disruptor) in plastics andto coat metal ood containers, brominated fame retardants used in many consumer products such as electronics, urniture anddrapery abrics, phthalates used to soten plastics, volatile organic compounds (used in paints, air resheners and ragrances),and perfuorinated chemicals (used in stain repellants and non-stick suraces) (Environmental Deence, 2006).

Health Canada is responsible or administering the Food and Drugs Act, Hazardous Products Act, Pest Control Products Act,Tobacco Actas well as co-administering with Environment Canada the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Across thesemany laws, the ederal government has legal tools to control toxic substances in consumer products. However, only limitedcontrols are actually in place or well-known hazards including tobacco, pesticides and consumer products that contain highhazard substances or that are packaged in hazardous containers, or both (Canadian Environmental Law Association - CELA,2008). There are signicant gaps in the regulation o consumer products in terms o the use o toxic substances. In some casesmanuacturers did not anticipate or intend that low levels o chemicals would be released rom their products. Or, many commonproducts contain chemicals o moderate or uncertain toxicity at low exposure levels and both the substances and the productshave received little to no regulatory attention.


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The same chemicals used in a workplace are required, under the Hazardous Products Act, to provide a ull display o ingredientsand saety inormation yet those chemicals used in homes do not have the same requirements. There are concerns regardingthe level o exposure children are experiencing since many common household products, such as household cleaners, can leavea residue on suraces, impact on indoor air quality or lead to chemicals building up in house dust simply as a result o normalproduct use (Environmental Deence, 2006; Canadian Environmental Law Association and Pollution Probe, 2004). There hasbeen research conducted showing mild health impacts including respiratory illness, vision problems, and skin rashes in children

exposed to low doses o household chemicals in household cleaners. The health eects due to long-term or delayed exposure tosome chemicals in common household products can include cancer, reproductive problems and birth deects.


First Nation children are more likely to live in substandard, low-income housing. Low-income housing is typically located closeto highways, industrial acilities and hazardous waste sites where air contaminants are concentrated. Low-income housing tendsto contain higher levels o contaminants such as lead rom paint (in homes built prior to 1976), pesticides and ungicides tocontrol pests and mould and PBDEs in dust rom wear and tear on mattresses and other urniture particularly i it is old and inpoor condition (TPH, 2005, Environmental Deence, 2006).

1in4childreninFirstNationcommunitiesliveinpoverty; 40%ofoff-reserveFirstNationchildrenliveinpoverty(Campaign2000,2008); 46%ofoff-reservechildrenliveinlone-parentfamilies(Campaign2000,2008); 28%oftheMtispopulationareconsideredlow-income(CanadianInstituteofHealthInformation,2001).

Strategies

Service Providers

Advocatefororganicenvironmentallyfriendlyhouseholdproducts; Advocatefortheproperstorage,useanddisposalofhouseholdproducts; Conducteducationalworkshopsforparentsregardinghouseholdchemicalsandsafealternatives.Thisincludes

proper rinsing and cleaning o areas where chemicals are used and inexpensive alternatives to common chemicalsincluding vinegar, baking soda, salt, lemon juice and so orth;

Advocateforsafeuseofproductsincommunityareasincludingschools,daycares,andhealthcenters.Minimizethe use o chemicals that are known to trigger reactions in people with sensitivities including air resheners,deodorizers and disinectants;

Implementamedicationandmercurythermometercollectionanddisposalprogramthroughahazardouswasteacility, the health centre or local pharmacy;

Lobbygovernmentforsupportforthedevelopmentofwasteprogramsincludingmedicationdisposal,hazardous

waste, recycling and air quality programs; Lobbygovernmentforstricterregulationsregardingtheapproval,labelling,andmonitoringofchemicalsusedin

household chemicals, cosmetics and consumer products.


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EarthAter the great food, Waynaboozhoo (Original Man) and a number o animals worked together to rebuild the Earth.Each animal and Waynaboozhoo tried to swim to the bottom o the water rom the food to collect a piece o Earth.Ater many ailed attempts, the muskrat sacriced its lie to collect the piece o Earth. The Earth was ormed when:

Waynaboozhoo took the piece o Earth rom the muskrats paw. At that moment, Mi-zhee-kay (the turtle) swamorward and said, Use my back to bear the weight o this piece o Earth. With the help o the Creator, we can make anew Earth. Waynaboozhoo put the piece o Earth on the turtles back. All o a sudden the noo-di-noon (winds) beganto blow. The wind blew rom each o the Four Directions. The tiny piece o Earth on the turtles back began to grow.Larger and larger it became, until it ormed a mi-ni-si (island) in the water. Still the Earth grew but still the turtle boreits weight on his back. Waynaboozhoo began to sing a song. All the animals began to dance in a circle on the growingisland. As he sang, they danced in an ever-widening circle. Finally, the winds ceased to blow and the waters becamestill. A huge island sat in the middle o the great water.


First Nation people were given the teachings o the land to show respect or all beings and to know the importance o all beings.When the world was overcome with ghting and evil, the Creator fooded the land to wipe away the evil and begin again. Today,First Nation people recognize that the Earth is again being damaged by the actions o people. Working internationally, Eldersrom all over the world are sharing their wisdom o the land and the teachings to educate the youth and governments on theimportance o the Earth.

First Nation communities are being impacted by environmental hazards ound in their ood sources, contaminants in the soilresulting rom ineective waste management and contaminants ound in community housing. The ollowing inormation coversthe environmental hazards, the impact on First Nation health and strategies to address each o these areas.


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Food Source ContaminationFoods rom the land and waters once provided everything native people needed. Food was a way o connecting to theland, with amily and riends, in social situations, and with our culture. Food is a source o pleasure, nourishment andpart o our cultural celebrations.(Ontario Federation o Indian Friendship Centres, 2002)

First Nation people have a relationship to the land that is both spiritual and practical. Many First Nation amilies rely ontraditional hunting, shing and harvesting or their ood. As industry and development expand and their pollutants contaminatesoil and water sources, First Nation people are losing viable land which diminishes land use or their traditional practices. Alongwith the loss o their traditional ood, they also lose a connection to the land and the physical benets o their hunting, shingand harvesting practices.

Not only is wildlie suering rom contamination, so are domestic animals and vegetation. In order to grow larger quantities oood and supply a larger population, modern agriculture includes the use o antibiotics with livestock, pesticides, herbicides andgenetic modication in plant crops.

Health Canada is responsible or the monitoring and approval o chemicals, additives and drugs used in the ood productionindustry as well as imported oods. The intent o maximum levels or limits o exposure to additives and chemicals is to protect thehealth and well being o Canadians while maintaining the viability o the ood production industry. Maximum levels are basedon scientic data or the chemicals or additives as well as daily consumption o the average person. A saety actor is workedinto the maximum levels to account or dierences in animal and human physiology. The Total Diet studies conducted by HealthCanada are used to estimate the daily intake o contaminants based on daily consumption o average ood.

Contaminants in ood sources will vary depending on ood types. In general, higher levels o contaminants will occur in processedoods compared to resh. The highest levels o persistent organic pollutants such as PBDEs, as well as those that have beenbanned or many years such as PCBs or DDT, are ound in animal products especially those high in at such as some meats, somesh and high-at dairy products like cheeses. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency monitors and reports on levels o pesticides,other agricultural chemicals, veterinary drugs, environmental pollutants and other impurities in agri-ood commodities o both

animal and plant origin (Canadian Food Inspection Agency - CFIA, 2006).

The agricultural sector uses pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and ertilizers to control weeds and sustain crop growth.Contamination o soil and water occur when agricultural chemicals run-o into water supplies, are distributed through aircurrents or when contaminated soil is mixed with water or other local soil.

Dairy and meat armers rely on the use o antibiotics and chemicals to protect their animals rom illness. Exposure to otherchemicals and toxicants through pesticides and herbicides used on crops or in the water supply can cause contamination o theanimals and their by-products.

Wildlife and Natural VegetationFive herbicides are commonly used in the orestry industry in Ontario with 2, 4-D and glyphosate (aerial spraying) used in themost volume. Glyphosate is most commonly used as a broad spectrum herbicide that kills grasses, weeds and woody plants. Itbinds to soil and does not migrate into groundwater sources. In water, it settles into the sediment. Studies reviewing impactsto insects, sh, birds, amphibians and wildlie show results ranging rom little toxicity to toxic impacts. There have been linksto cancer, genetic changes and reproductive problems particularly sperm quality and adverse birth outcomes. The individualsconsidered at greatest risk are proessional applicators, armers and individuals impacted by spills. There is particular concernregarding the impact on the habitat o wildlie, insects and birds (Sang, 2006).


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Herbicides and pesticides are used in the orestry industry to control unwanted vegetation and insects that can impact the growtho the prime orest products (Sang, 2006). There are intended and unintended impacts o the use o herbicides and pesticides.Intended impacts are the selective deaths o competing vegetation and pests. The unintended impacts are the eects on wildliesuch as bees and the contamination o surrounding soil and water. Wildlie can become contaminated when the chemicals areabsorbed into the plant lie or water or they can abandon the area (habitat) due to a loss o a ood supply (Sang, 2006).

Additional contaminants are introduced into the environment rom industry including mining, smelting operations, paper millsand construction. Contaminants common with these operations include heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, dioxins,urans and particulate matter (Environmental Deence, 2006).

Along time ago, Abel Kitchen invited me to go shing up north. He invited me to go shing. They had warnings outthat they we getting mercury that came rom James Bay when the water level was raised. The mercury came rom theorest and went into the streams and rivers. The mercury got into the sh. But I didnt care at that time. I caught 3walleye and we cooked it up right away. But we didnt talk about contamination. Now, we better worry.



We have to learn how to be thankul. Remember all the stories that the grandathers and grandmothers use to tellabout their excitement o their hunt, excitement about their shing. And how they could relate to the animals, to theearth and to the rhythm. When you are close to that you can almost talk to them and almost hear them respond. Whenyou understand the nature, it is a dierent level o understanding and very sacred.


The traditional diet most commonly consumed by Ontario First Nation individuals includes: reshwater sh, wild berries, homegrown vegetables and wild game. 23.1 % o EAGLE project participants reported an increase in traditional diet consumption,65.4 % reported that their diet has remained the same and 11.5% reported a decrease in traditional diet consumption (Assemblyo First Nations, 2001). First Nations in rural locations rely more on traditional diets than First Nation individuals who reside in

urban centers.

It takes 5,000 years or biochemistry to change. We have only had contact or 500 years. Loss o traditional practices,including loss o traditional diets, can be linked to the increase in dietary related disease and obesity.

~Elder Rebecca Martell, 2008

The work o Dr. Otto Schaeer has demonstrated that the acculturation o First Nation people, specically the loss otraditional practices, has negatively impacted their overall health and well-being. Prior to contact, First Nation peoplewere well adapted to their environment and were able to address epidemics and nutritional deciencies. This can bedemonstrated through their long lie expectancy and lack o disease. Since contact, the loss o their nomadic, traditionalliestyles has placed them at increased risk o ood related diseases, epidemics and social disorder.

~Inormation provided by Elder Rebecca Martell, 2008

The move away rom traditional ood can be linked directly to loss o cultural identity and the natural transmission o traditionalknowledge. Recommendations rom interviewees and research regarding First Nation health demonstrates that the negativehealth impacts or First Nations associated with diet can be linked to the loss o access to traditional oods and medicine. Toaddress and reverse the negative health impacts such as diabetes and heart disease, there needs to be a return to a traditionaldiet. This requires a shit in consumption o processed oods by individuals but also in environmental policies that directly impacthabitat o traditional ood sources and the contaminant burdens in soil, water and air quality (Smylie, 2001 & Ship, 1997;Arquette et al, 2002).


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Createacommunityfoodcampaign(GoodFoodBox)whereamembershipofcommunitymemberspooltheirmoney to negotiate the bulk purchase o nutritious oods such as ruits and vegetables;

Investigate community greenhouse projects for northern climates to increase the ability togrow vegetableslocally;

Createacommunityeducationcampaignincludingacommunicationplanforconsumptionguidelinesandrecallso contaminated ood products;

Advocatefortheinitiationofalongitudinalstudythatmonitorscommunitymemberscontaminantslevels; Develop wild meat and medicine food banks that encourage community hunters, sherman and traditional

harvesters to share a portion o their harvest with ellow community members such as elders, low income andlarge amilies;

Lobbygovernmentforresearch reviewing the environmental impactsof pesticide and herbicide use and safeconsumption and exposure levels or contaminants;

Lobbygovernment for resources todevelopand implement education programs torevitalizetraditional foodpractices such as hunting, shing and harvesting and to support healthy ood programs long-term.

Soil ContaminationSoil contamination can occur rom naturally occurring substances such as heavy metal deposits and natural gases such asradon. The existence o these substances can pose problems when they aect air quality or contaminate ground or suracewater. Much larger soil contamination problems arise rom the introduction o oreign contaminants into the environmentby industry, individual households and agriculture (Environment Canada, 2008). Soil contamination can occur rom steel andpetroleum production, pulp and paper mills, human sewage and waste products (to be discussed later in this section) as well asagricultural/orestry contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides and ungicides.

Unortunately, contaminated soil can be very dicult or in some cases impossible to clean up. A number o methods usedto clean contaminated areas include deactivation, remediation, and neutralization. Deactivation occurs when a material isadded to the soil to bind with the contaminant making it inactive such as activated carbon (Illinois Pesticide Review, 2008).Remediation is the introduction o microorganisms into the soil that break down the contaminants (Government o Canada,2008). Neutralization occurs when a material (usually another chemical) is added to the soil to make the chemical inactive suchas lime added to sulphur. The cost associated with cleaning up contaminated soil can be quite expensive or communities andcompanies, especially when a spill occurs (aboutRemediation.com, 2008).

Additional inormation regarding the impact o soil contamination on health including contamination o soil rom wastemanagement, air contamination such as pesticides and the impact o soil contamination on water systems are discussed inurther detail throughout this manual.

Impact on Childrens Health

Children are exposed to contaminants through multiple sources, including water, ood, air and soil. Where soil is contaminated,children are at particular risk because they are oten in direct contact with it and they will ingest soil and the contaminantsit contains during normal activities, especially hand-to-mouth behaviour. The same risk exists rom a childs normal activity onfoors indoors since contaminants in soil can be readily tracked indoors. This is o particular concern or small children who arestill crawling or toddling. Children are unlikely to be aware o contaminants in their backyards, local neighbourhood or the manyplaces where they may play with riends.

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Laurie Hing Man Chan (2006) identied First Nation communities that were located within 50 km o chemical release hotspots(industry with signicant release). Her work identied 135 to 176 communities within 50 km o heavy metal releases and 212communities located within 50 km o dioxin and uran releases.

Some communities that are listed by the Federal government as being areas o priority or clean-up include:

AformernursingstationatWeagamowLakeiscontaminatedwithpetroleumhydrocarbons.Itwillbeundergoinga clean up under the Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan;

SoilneartwoformernursingstationsatLansdowneHouseandKasabonikaLakeiscontaminatedbydieselfueloil.It will be undergoing a clean up under the Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan;

WalpoleIslandFirstNationislocatedonLakeSt.Clair,whichconnectsLakeHurontoLakeErie.Thereisconcernregarding the contamination o sediment around Walpole Island. Studies have shown the presence o persistenttoxic chemicals such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and octachlorostyrene (OCS) which are believed to cause cancer(Jacobs, 2008);

CutlerAcidSite locatedinSerpentRiverFirstNationhasbeenrecognizedasa prioritysite.SerpentRiverFirstNation has been ghting or the clean-up o sulphur and heavy metals rom the contaminated land.

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First Nations Trough the Eyes of a Child

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