"Six Nations delegates visit Southgate Township Council to oppose Dundalk biosolid facility"

The fight over a human waste processing facility located near the headwaters of the Grand River is increasingly sweeping up Six Nations members into the fray, but it has the potential to turn into a win-win situation.

It all started when opponents of the facility, being built by Lystek International, came to Six Nations this spring, seeking support. They got it in spades, with a letter from Elected Council, and the physical support of Wes Elliott and Floyd and Ruby Montour, who helped man a road blockade and brought other Six Nations members to Dundalk for a protest march.

On August 1, "Bill Montour, Lester Green, Bud Johnson, and there was another fellow by the name of Chuck" travelled to Hopeville where they met with Southgate Township Council's Committee of the Whole said Southgate Township Mayor Brian Milne.

"Floyd and Ruby [Montour] were with them. Now Floyd and Ruby, they didn't say anything during the presentation. These gentlemen came and made a presentation. They wanted to speak to us and give us some information regarding treaty rights, the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights and the Haldimand Tract of course, and they had some concerns about the development here in our industrial park in Dundalk."

Milne said he welcomed the information provided by Monture and his group. "I can tell you, it's been a steep learning curve for this poor plough boy from Grey County on this First Nations issue." He claimed his council had never been advised by the provincial government of the need to consult with First nations when the council decided to create an industrial park. "The developing company had never been told by the government of the duty to consult," he said. "We were both blindsided."

Monture, who has undertaken a crusade against wind turbines this past year in an attmept to protect the environment, said fertilizer made from municipal human waste is dangerous for the environment, human, animal and plant health.

"Varsol, gasoline... latex, chrome and residues, polyester, epoxy urethane, resin, solvent mixtures, I mean you name," said Monture. "Liquids from veterinary, arsenol compound, laundry waste, waste organic chemicals including lavatory surplus," he read from a list. "Photochemical solutions, ... adhesives, glue... spent carbine, pink water from TNT manufacturing..."

Monture also said diseases like "Hepatitis C and HIV," as well as pharmaceuticals can be found in treated sewage sludge. The use of the product for fertilizer will contaminate the land, he said. "All of a sudden... nothing will grow because of the toxicity in that application when you do it and do it and do it."

But Six Nation farmer and retired engineer Barry Hill doesn't see it that way. He recently assessed Lystek's process and the Dundalk facility for the Haudenosaunee Development Institute.

"The reality is that somewhere in Ontario as we speak, biosolids are being applied," said Hill. "Lystek is offering a better solution, and my whole report is that. My report isn't political, it's technical."

"I feel badly that we fall prey to lobbyists with an agenda and they end up shaping our policy, our external relation policy with external communities," Hill said. "In essence, it's the same old story. They're using Indians for cannon fodder."

"If they can use some local person to stop the windmills, or to stop something, whatever it is, they trot us out there. They're not laying in front of the bulldozer," said Hill.

Hill's report was been embraced by Lystek, which quoted Hill as having said, "I am glad to know that my report can be a part of the continued positive conversations between our community and Lystek. As a proud farmer and member of Six Nations of the Grand River, I think there is an opportunity here for long-term partnership."

Lystek can help Six Nations with its sewage problem, Hill explained. The sewage lagoon overflows periodically. And "when it overflows, it goes right past Ruby, Floyd and Wes" as it is carried away to the Grand River by McKenzie Creek.

"I was trying to explain to people... I never considered myself a politician, but I do know stuff about the technical world and if I can explain what it is you're fighting about, then you'll know why you're fighting about it," said Hill. "I'm not receiving any money from anybody. I've refused compensation from HDI and I'm not being paid by Lystek either."

As Hill circumspectly points out, "There's a gravel pit that's going in in Paris and nobody's doing or saying anything about that."

In other words, there are very real threats to the quality of water carried in the Grand River. What Hill did not mention was how the quality of water in the Grand is already negatively affected by waste water treatment plants in the watershed.

There are 30 of the treatment plants serving approximately 700,000 people; and when there are not accidental spills of sewage into the river, there is the release of effluent, left over from the treatment process. In that effluent is trace contaminants, like pharmaceuticals and personal care products; heavy metals, chloride, ammonia and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrate, among other things.

Four communities, including Six Nations, relies on the Grand River for drinking water.

Lystek has two plants operating in Guelph and St. Mary's, while a new facility in Peterborough has just begun operations. Wellington County will soon be using Lystek's technology for its sewage treatment.

While Lystek does not yet have the neccessary approval of the Ministry of Natural Resources to operate the Dundalk plant, "They already have interest [from farmers] who would buy most of what they could produce from them," said Milne.

The majority of the material to be processed at Dundalk would come from Toronto.

Milne said he has met once informally with Elected Chief William Montour and Lonny Bomberry; and has also met once with Aaron Deltor, Hazel Hill and some of the Chiefs representing HDI.