Canadian Aboriginals Deserve More than an Apology

‘During the Cold war-era, in the late 1950's and early 60's, many military bases were built in Northern Ontario and the Arctic for security measures. The activities of the military bases and radar sites interrupted the migration patterns of the wildlife. Once the Cold war ended, many of the bases were no longer needed for use and so they were abandoned. Over time, these abandoned sites began to deteriorate. The leftover chemical waste began to affect the environment around it; damaging the Arctic ecosystem. The largest of the abandoned sites was Site 500. Near Site 500 is the Aboriginal reserve community of Peawanuck. This community relies on the hunting and fishing of the surrounding area for food sources. The deteriorating Site 500 had the community worried that soil contaminants-PCBs (poly-chlorinated biphenyls) and leftover chemical waste- were affecting the food chain. If the animals they were eating had accumulated pollutants in their systems, then they would be affecting the health of the Peawanuck community. The Government of Canada assisted in the clean-up of Site 500 with many participants from the Peawanuck reserve. It's fantastic that the government is assisting in efforts like this, but it may be too little too late. The government abandoned the bases and let them deteriorate and potentially harm all living things in the surrounding environment including the inhabitants of Peawanuck reserve. Had the government, in the past, dealt with the bases and not just abandoned them, the Aboriginals would not have to face this problem now.’