Environmental Issues: Muskrat Falls
Nalcor is not being completely transparent when they claim that the installation of the project will be environmentally friendly. Constructing a dam will cause the water levels in the Lower Churchill river to rise. Flooding would likely result in dangerously high levels of mercury being deposited into the river, killing fish, seals and seabirds. This is detrimental to the indigenous people living off the river, as fish are a staple in their diet. The Nunatsiavut First Nation would be primarily impacted by the presence of mercury in the seafood, and would be forced to adopt a different source of protein into their diets. Hollis Yetman, a representative of the Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association, stated that, “I hear there's going to be lots of studying, but there's no one here going to tell you that you're going to be able to eat the fish without methylmercury poisoning in the future," after Nalcor had the project approved (Jan 2013).
Upset with the approval of the Muskrat Falls project, many Nunatsiavut people have spoken up. The Make Muskrat Right campaign was created in November 2015. Supporters of the movement lobbied for the provincial government to fully clean the reservoir. Many members of the public are rallying behind the campaign.
Not only did the Nunatsiavut people conduct Make Muskrat Right, but the Nunatsiavut government also launched a study alongside Harvard University set to research the increase of methyl mercury levels in the water in and around Muskrat Falls. Results from their research showed an increase of mercury levels prior to the beginning of the project, suggesting that the environmental concerns at hand are more serious than previously projected. This is a pressing issue for the Nunatsiavut, the project has more impact on their way of life than any other people. The results of the study were devastating, and the effects of the dam itself will be even more detrimental.
