'Everyone cares' protests held across N.L. to show solidarity with Muskrat Falls action

Dozens gatheredat noon Monday fora Make Muskrat Right event in Stephenville.

"I think its important for the people of Labrador to know they are not alone," said Janice Kennedy, executive director of the Bay St. George Status of Women Council.

Kennedy spoke at the protest today as a representative of the eight status of women councils in the province.

"It affects women. It affects their children," she said.

"I think its important because we do know the risk of methylmercury in the water is going to affect the indigenous human rights,culture andbasically food security and their physical and mental health."

Kennedy said thecouncil is showing its support by attending protests and speaking with women in the public about the impacts.

"I think its important for the people of Labrador to know they are not alone. We are their to support their voice and raise their voice up," Kennedy said.

Show of solidarity

The harsh wind and rain did not deter nearly 40people from gathering outside the Harmon Building in Stephenville to show their concerns with the flooding of the reservoir as part of the Muskrat Falls project.

Protest organizer Pam Campbell isoriginally from Rigolet but attends post secondary school in Stephenville. She, along with other protesters, held signs and sang traditionalsongs.

"Being separated from what's going on in Labrador, physically, that's where our spirits are that's where our heart is," she said. "That is where our mind is all the time. What can I do? We are just raising awareness. Its not just in Labrador that people care."

Campbell says she worries the flooding could increase the potential mercury contamination in traditional food sources like fish and seal near her community of Rigolet.

"It's scary. Its fearful. Its hard to even imagine our lives to be changed in such a dramatic way,"she said. "Its why Rigolet is there. If it wasn't for the seal meat, we wouldn't exist today. If it wasn't for this land and waters, there would be no Labrador Inuit people. It's hard to be here and know they my hometown is going to be so deeply impacted. "

The Stephenville protest ran for about thirty minutes and concluded with Qalipu traditional songs and drum dancing.