Benzene emissions from a chemical plant in Sarnia, Ontario, have taken a toll on the health of Aamjiwnaang First Nation members, prompting elected councillor Janelle Nahmabin to demand that Indigenous voices be included in ongoing global negotiations for a plastics treaty. The First Nation resides in an area known as “chemical valley” due to its concentration of industrial companies and has been disproportionately affected by pollution for over 100 years. According to Nahmabin, industry operates in three areas surrounding the small community, including near a river that they have been diligently trying to protect. She emphasized that the pollution permeates their daily lives, forcing them to close facilities to safeguard employee health. Nahmabin stressed the need for Indigenous Peoples to be active participants in the design and implementation of the plastics treaty, highlighting their right to a healthy environment and the responsibility to prevent exposure to hazardous substances. “We have been here before industry and before Canada,” she declared. Nahmabin denounced the absence of their consent to the industrial presence in their homelands and condemned the pollution that has affected their children, elders, and community members. Preliminary data from pollutant monitors in the region revealed multiple instances of poor and moderate air quality this month due to elevated benzene levels. INEOS Styrolution, the company operating the chemical plant, announced its temporary closure for maintenance and to address a mechanical issue. While Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley welcomed the shutdown, he criticized the company’s poor communication throughout the week and lack of apology. Both Bradley and Dale Gartshore, Sarnia’s deputy fire chief and community emergency coordinator, emphasized the company’s obligation to notify authorities and the community of incidents. Aamjiwnaang First Nation elected councillor CJ Smith-White expressed concern that elevated benzene levels had caused community members to fall ill, calling it an unacceptable and recurring issue. He denounced the “sacrifice zone” that their community had become for the benefit of industry, highlighting the impacts of pollution on their way of life and traditional practices. Smith-White demanded industry accountability and called for all levels of government and energy regulators to enforce regulations and prevent special treatment for industry. He also criticized successive governments for failing to address the pollution’s impact on Aamjiwnaang, resulting in severe consequences for their lives. Suzanne Smoke, outreach coordinator for the Society of Native Nations, questioned the exclusion of Indigenous voices while industry representatives participated in the treaty negotiations. She described it as a conflict of interest that marginalized the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Smoke condemned the continued genocide and ecocide faced by Indigenous communities due to industry’s presence and called for swift action to address the harmful chemicals affecting Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
Indigenous Voices Demand Inclusion in Plastics Treaty Negotiations Amidst Chemical Plant Closure
