"When a society breaks down environmentally, it tends to breakdown socially." Although a generalized statement, it does exhibit a painful truth when it is applied to Native American society. Case in point, the small Mohawk community of Akwesasne. Located along the banks of the St. Lawrence River, this unique community has been subject to a constant stream of pollutants that have entered the fragile ecosystem that is home to a variety of mammals and fish life. For centuries, the Mohawks have relied on the River for food, medicines, commerce, trade and recreation. That was until the St. Lawrence Seaway was introduced upstream from the reservation. The Seaway along with Moses Saunders Power Dam was built on Mohawk lands in the fifties in order to spur economic development in Northern New York; this land is part of an on going New York State-Akwesasne land claim settlement. Because of it's rural setting, the "North Country" was judged by New York State to be in need of a boost to it's limited economic structure. The Power dam would attract different industries with its cheap electricity. The industries that took advantage of this included General Motors Corporation, Reynolds Metal and the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA).
Twenty years later, the consequences of having industrial neighbors came to light. Initially, farmers on Cornwall Island noticed a change in their cattles' grazing patterns. Apparently the cattle were becoming sick and eventually dying of what later would be diagnosed as fluorosis. Due to the aluminum production at Reynolds Metals, airborne fluoride was being emitted that affected vegetation across the river on Mohawk territory. This was the first real evidence that pollution was having a detrimental effect on the reservation.
However, people were not only worried about the cattle, questions were being raised about the effects on human health as well. It would be another ten years with a threat to the health of Mohawk children that an organized effort was coordinated to face the eminent problem of toxic waste exposure. The community group that was formed, called MASH (Mohawks Agree on Safe Health), had a big task ahead of them. They resolved to ensure that the health needs of the community became a priority. Through the sheer determination to better the community of Akwesasne, MASH was able to instill a sense of urgency. This sense of urgency would transpire into studies that would examine the toxic effects of pollution on wildlife and fish. The results revealed a record amount of PCBs in some of the wildlife like snapping turtles, frogs, and ducks. Subsequent tests lead to a human health assessment that focused on PCBs in human breast milk.
By 1987, the public had become aware of the environmental degradation that was occurring in the community. The main task at that time was to acquire funding that would support programs to examine the air and water quality of the reservation. Through the search, funding was finalized through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). After that point, the environmental programs that evolved not only looked at the pollution generated by the factories, but also focused on other environmental issues that included natural resource protection, solid waste, gas station regulation, and indoor air quality.
The strong willed character of the Mohawk people has persevered and as a result, the community has confronted the degradation of our water, soil and air head on. Currently there are environmental programs and organizations within the community that have focused on preserving and enhancing the natural environment of Akwesasne. These include the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's Environment Division, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne's Environment Division, the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment, the First Environment Research Project, the First Environment Communication Project, and the E.A.G.L.E. Project. All of these programs have a responsibility to the present day community of Akwesasne, but it should be realized that the true obligation is to the future generations of Kanienkehaka (Mohawk).
