"The "Garden" [what the Cree call this area] soils had long held a toxic
secret. They were rich in naturally occurring inorganic mercury. When the
dams flooded the land [from the already-built first phase of the project,
on the La Grande river], bacteria feeding on the now drowned vegetation
released the mercury into the food chain in the form of methyl mercury,
which can accumulate in living organisms. The mercury moved up the food
chain to the fish and, in turn, to the Cree, for whom the fish of the
rivers and bay were a staple of both diet and culture. In 1985 tests of
1,318 Cree ... found that 47% had levels of mercury above W.H.O. standards,
and nearly 10% had levels high enough to put them at risk of developing
the neurological symptoms of mercury poisoning.
"While experts argue over how long the effects of the mercury will linger
(H-Q scientists predict that mercury levels in the fish will return to
longer in 20-30 years ... (others) believe it will take decades more)...
"The Cree have no word for mercury and so speak of nimass aksiwin, meaning
fish disease..."
Sounds to me like another example of "don't mess with mother nature" gone
awry. ........... Charlie Scheiner