This Friday, the music beats of Gayfinity at the Henhouse will be dedicated to bringing in dollars for River Run 2012, a march and rally in support of the people of Grassy Narrows.

In 1970, excessive mercury from a pulp mill in Dryden, Ontario, was spilled into the Wabigoon River, leaving the Grassy Narrows First Nation, Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek, with a contaminated water supply. As a result, people of the region continue to face neurological health problems.

“At the time, the government said it would take months for the mercury to wash out of the river system,” says Jan Braun, a member of the River Run coalition. “In 2010, a newly translated Japanese study on the health of [Grassy Narrows] residents showed that while mercury levels were going down, the health impacts of mercury poisoning are worse now than they were in the ’70s.”

Braun hopes everyone will support the Henhouse event. “It’s a good time . . . As a queer person I ask straight allies to struggle with me. This is an extension of that for me . . . it’s all about seeing that our struggles are interconnected.”

River Run 2012 includes a march, rally and a week of events running from June 3 to 8. Grassy Narrows leaders and community allies in Toronto will push the Ontario government to take action and respond to the difficulties faced by those living in the area.

The money raised at Gayfinity will help the River Run 2012 coalition run the event.

The Deets:
Gayfinity
Friday, April 6 and Friday, May 4
Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St W
henhousetoronto.com

Can’t come? Donate to River Run here.