The Mohawk governments and their people, those who are most impacted by the lack of effective cleanup at this site, make decisions based on different criteria. They are keenly aware of the fact that cleanup levels must be protective of not only human health but the health of the most sensitive species, including future generations. They also know that Mohawk people and resident species of plants and animals are going to be living adjacent to the landfill forever and will be experience the effects of persistent contaminants for generations to come. In the Mohawk world view, accepting responsibility for our actions and working towards permanently solutions to problems are critically important, especially in cases where our decisions are going to negatively impact the health and welfare of the natural world and future generations. We know that this site must be permanently cleaned up for any cultural or ecosystem restoration to occur.
The people of Akwesasne have always viewed the protection of their land, air and water as central to their social, political, economic and religious structures. The earth and her protection is central to the Mohawk way of life. Now, Akwesasne residents are afraid to fish, hunt, gather, plant gardens or pick medicine because of PCBs, fluoride, PAHs, and other toxicants in water, soil, sediments and air. Anything grown at Akwesasne is suspect. Mohawks argue that in the face of the scientific knowledge about these compounds and their effects, who would feed poison to their families? The problems associated with air pollution are much more than just aesthetic. It would be unwise for people to dry materials - everything from clothes to fish or medicines outside in some areas of the community. There is concern about children playing outdoors, especially if they have respiratory problems such as asthma. Many do not want their children swimming, fishing or playing in the rivers that may be contaminated. The natural world can no longer be trusted to be safe.
Impacts on the local economy have been particularly severe. The barter and subsistence economies, important cultural and social institutions, enabled people to trade fish, meat, eggs, and garden vegetables and meet the needs of the community. Before the ecosystem was contaminated with toxicants, some estimate that over 50% of the economy at Akwesasne was associated with fishing. Now, unemployment is at 69%. Studies have shown that sudden shifts in the economies of Native communities can have devastating social and cultural effects. The loss of jobs has many implications. For example, Mohawks have to either leave their homeland to look for work or else promote forms of economic development which may not be compatible with cultural values or environmental mandates. As long as the community, its economy and the natural world are healthy, Mohawk people can maintain their independence and decide their own future. Environmental contamination severely limits the options available to the people of Akwesasne and few choices remain to support a stable, sustainable, and culturally appropriate economy. Industries have limited the ability of Mohawk people to determine their own destiny, which severely impacts their self-determination and self-governance. Discussions about the economic future of the community have become increasingly divisive because so few options are left. It therefore becomes all the more important that a thorough and comprehensive cleanup be undertaken to restore the ecosystem and rebuild the subsistence economies before further disruptions take place.
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