{ title: 'Indian time. (Rooseveltown, N.Y.) 1983-current, August 07, 1985, Page 1, Image 1', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1985-08-07/ed-1/seq-1/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1985-08-07/ed-1/seq-1.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1985-08-07/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1985-08-07/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
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s s#.,.vil5' mm f A •*•**•& •& •&>&• «- <fe- « ^l&^'di.: 1-;:. .'.•;••.•''•..A ,. j >-.- •?=•• <••- >O #> • «* • ••3 ^mmt %**•• •M^ ••\•' \ ' . •<•\ ' \'•\'• ' '* ^-^ Hz^m^m- ,: ^.i^, ' ,Vrt),r...v; : ' vY . ' ' •'-*-' ^>\-J —\i'V-^S >. \%* •*•' & The Quarry on St. Regis Road is one of the swimming spots for Akwesasne residents. According to En- vironmental Director Randy Hart, the quarry is less polluted than the St. Regis River or the'Dam'. .: ' ; '•-.. . ; .. ; Photo: Cindy Termnce *The Reservation Is Onfc 0f the More Contaminated Areas in the State AKWESASNE — At a press conference heid on July 31st, New York'State Pathologist Ward Stone announced that \the Reservation is one of the more contaminated areas in: New York State.\ At the press conference Stone stated his ; findings concerning a snapping turtle which was caught and analyzed. The turtle was caught by Environmental Health Technician Doug Smoke as reported in Indian Time Vol. 3, /•No.'. 18. ..'• •: ' . • • ;'•' • ••' • • ..•\ ': ' •\' '- • - • ; \ ••'-•. ' .. : Stone stated that the snapping turtle caught and analyzed was an excellent monitor of the environment because,,they \eat both animal and plant life. The turtle was caught about 300 feet from the General Motors dump site. The results in- dicated that the turtle was highly contaminated arid un- suitable for human consumption, there were levels of PCB's found at 835 parts per million. These levels were 7-28 times higher than levels that are accepted by gbvernrhent,-.The in- sect jcidesdiedldrin, were found in the fat of the turtle and that level was 20.7 parts per million. Mirex found in the tur- tle measured 1.1 part per million along with the DDT • metabolite (48.1 parts per million). High levels-of thesecoW pounds especially the PCB's, 203 parts per million were also present in the liver of the turtle. The dissected skeletal mus- cle free of visible fat contained 3.6 parts per'/million of' /• ; : : \; \ • \•;• Graduate student Janet Rith-Najarlan examines a worm from one of the 48 areas on Racquette Point she has Included in her soil, vegetation and In- vertebre study. Photo: Cindy Terrance Soil, Vegetation and Invertebre Study Conducted on Racquette Point RACQUETTE POINT — Samples of soil, vegetation and inr vertebres are presently being collected from different areas of Racquette Point. Janet Rith-Najarian started collecting' samples in mid June. Janet a graduate student from Syracuse University's College of Environmental Forestry said, \From the samples I am collecting I will be able to find out whether metal contamination is found in th«Tsoil and invertebres and in what concentration they have accumulated.\ Heavy metals concentrate in worms and pill bugs up to: one hundred times without killing them. The contamination directly affects the food chain. The sludge deposits are from the dredging which was done during the building of the St, Lawrence Seaway from 1954-1958. Metals adhere to clay really well and most of the soils around Racquette Point is clay. The process for analyzing the samples Janet collects is very lengthy. The vegetation and invertebres' organic tissue is first reduced to ashes. Then an atomonic absorption specr trometer is used to measure the concentrations of metals and also tells what kind of metal concentrations are also in the samples. \ : '•'.;' Janet has collected samples from forty-eight areas of Rac- quette Point, three areas that she has been studying is the sludge area behind Ida Ransom's home, and areas near the Tony Cole residence and the home of Aaron Oakes. If metal contaminants are migrating underground around RaCquette Point, Janet would like to find out to what extent they have affected life underground. A study of life beneath the ground was done near Corn- wall Ontario about three years ago. Janet will be able to com-; pare the results of her study to the study done near Corn- wall. Janet should have the results from Her study by December. Cindy Terrance Ward also stated, \The area poses a serious problem with pollution, Pollutants can be contaminating |he riye*-froj - far away as coming from the Hfloker^cheifijcir Plwfc Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York.\ Ward also stressed' that the turtles found here should not be eaten. Mice, shrews arid frogs are also being analyzed for the wild study. Stone found out that the community at St, Regis consume a number of muskrats caught each year. Studies will soon be done on miiskrat, fish, the river and other water fowl. .Funding for the. wild life study is corning from the Gift For Wild Life Foundation. The tests which are being done oh the animals cost about $1,000 for each animal. The tests are be : irig done for nothing. There are two studies presently being done within New York State. The great horned owl is being/ studied because a great number of deaths of the owls have •';. been attributed to pollution. The second study underway is diagnostic tests and problems with wild life. '•y. Rosemary Bonaparte, one of the Tribal Chiefs said, \The people of Akwesasne consider the results on the analysis of . trie wildlife to be cause ror concern, n is Deeoming increas- ingly evident that pollution caused by neighboring in- dustries is contaminating the fauna and flora of the Reserva- lioh and is working its way up through the food chain. The . wild life study was initiated because 6f the threat of toxirisj from the General Motors Dump, contaminating the 'wildlife of pur lands and eventually us. The GM site contains high levels of PCB's, along with phenols, heavy metals and many kinds of industrial solvents and degreasers. The GM site is an Environmental Protection Agency \Superfund\ site labeling it as one of the most hazardous waste sites in the country. We/had been depending on the EPA to insure the study of the GM site was comprehensive. We were shocked to learn that two highly toxic impurities of PCB's, polyehiorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF's) were not included in the list of parameters to be analyzed during the soil, surface water and ; grourtdwater sampling programs We have made a request to the EPA to add these two compounds to the list. Had it not 'been for the assistance of Ward Stone, we would riot have known, of the existence of these' two; compounds. The General Motors dump is not the only threat to our enyiroh- Tnent Dredgings, placed on Racquette Point during the con- struction of the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950's, could ; also contain toxins. Janet Rith-Najarian, a graduate student at the New York State College of Environmental Forestry from, Syracuse, is conducting a soil and vegetation study to deter- mine what types and levels of chemical contamination is^^ pre- sent. Akwesasne is being polluted by air emissions^froim Hie nearby aluminum plants (Alcoa and Reynolds). : V\ - Although these two companies meet state arid federal air quality standards we believe they can kiwerthe amount of air emissions and still operate efficiently. We are faced'witih- another threat to our environment. The Minerals Processing '. Company has become an eyesore td anyone visiting /Afcwesasne. We are disappointed in the Region 6 office 'of. the DEC for being lax in enforcing their air cjuality standards regarding air emissions from this facUij^.-;^.>r^\i6ii^^R|^-' many environmental problems. We cahnbt tprrect th/eipaiji|iii: til we fully understand what they are ^d how they w^^P feet us. Thanks to the efforts of people like Ward Stone and Janet Rith-Najarian, we are beginning to,under^t^id^.''\:- i /Chief Jake Swamp also present at the /c)pr%i^cevs#|,; \Our very foundation of life is bemg threatened by these chemicals. If possible we must correct the situaUon and we must take any avenue in doing so. Our i^wa^^^^orif with anyone in anyway to correct this situation. This^doesn't only concern our community. We must bring the problem to the attention of all of society.^ / - v / ^'^ : ', :? ^4 ';\:{ .Ward Stone also added, 'ChUdren sriouki be torbidden from playng in the dump area.\ Stone hwalsOc^edfprthc immediate action which Will stbjv -^s-ii^g^d^^y^t- . chemical pollutants into the river. •' ; \\ ^'Ai^^M^S^J^' ^••••••- •\.•• . • •• . - 1 \ •'.••^•2i.^V:^#iili^'r •.•^•••^-j»' -.»*. A Voice From The Eastern Door August 7, Volume 3, Number 20 Price: $ .50 &V3 ». % t.r ^£M St. Regis Rescue Team (L-R): Pam Brown, Gail General, touis Barnes, Velma Sharrow, Caroline Francis, Maday Sunday, Director Pat Thomas, Louie Lafcore, Dick Clench and Rudy King. . ' . •-•••• : '-.• .-.•.-• Photo: Cindy Terrance Public Appeal for Help for egis Rescue Squad REGIS — The St. Regis Rescue Squad (Ambulance Ser- vfce) has. been 4h existence since December of 1980. They h^veres^6n«aej|tp the needs of the community of ; ''^^^l^'j^v^l^^^esulted, fot partof Jthe deficit of. the Mohawk Council of Afewesasne. The rescue squad has at- tempted to'Seek: funding by submitting proposals to a number of agencies. As of this writing, no funding source has committed, any monies to continue the operation of the ambulance seryice. The M6hawk/Council o^f Akwesasne has realized the need for the operation of the ambulance service and the conti- nuance of this service for the Akwesasne community. This is a large committment on the part of the Mohawk Council. Pat Thomas, Director of the St.^egis Rescue Squad said, \With the rising costs of the continuing of answering calls, we need : the support of our community, for financial support. With help frOm the community, we could greatly defray costs for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.\ The St; Regis Rescue Squad is making a public appeal for help, donations arid contributions to keep the re,scue squad goingVLocal community members or businesses are urged to come forward and either donate or help organize fundraising events for; the Rescue Squad. v In 1983 the St. Regis Rescue Squad responded to a total of 223 calls, in 1984 they responded to 314 calls. In 1985, in the seven months that they have been in operation they have responded to a total of 281 calls. The records speak for themselves. The St, Regis Rescue Squad is a growing service. The costs for Operating and maintaining the rescue service is skyrocketing; the rescue squad is greatly in need of help frpm any individuals, Chief Mike Mitchell and Councillors stated that they fully support the:continuance of the service the St. Regis Rescue provides/for the community. Henry Lickers calculated that each time the ambulance service answers a call, the cost for materials and operational expenditures are $385.00. Costs for medical supplies used by the ambulance service have more than doubled in the past year. The ambulance used by the Rescue Squad is always, in great need Of repairs, what the rescue squad really needs is a new ambulance. For the sake of the our community and our loved one's, let's pull, together to raise the money that the St. Regis Rescufe S^fuad needs to continue their operation. The commuriitysefvjice the rescue squad is providing and also to .help defray the costs for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. The St. Regis Rescue Squad provides services to the com- munity pn.a-24-hour, 7 day a week basis. Last year the opera- tion of this cbhirnunity service was 1112,000. The workers work twelve :h?(iur shifts, four days a week. Each shift re- - ';quiresa. dispatcher, a driver with advanced first aid training afld/^-'^Wv-'leader'.-\^^^' are thirteen people who are presently working for the ambulance service, they are: Pat Thc^nis; Jpirector & Crew leader Joan Phillips, Crew Leader Michelle McDonald Caroline Francis Louie Lazore Pam Brown Gail General Louie Barnes, Crew Leader Kenny Oakes Robert (Maday) Sunday Rudy King Velma Sharrow, Crew Leader Dick Clench Pat Thomas/and Gail General are fully trained and certified Wijli-.fRejti:C^»^\;Ju»d : CPR training. Velma Sharrow is also a Licensed^ricitfeal! l^rse, Gail, Pat and Priscilla Worswick ^ye r^e|^ in CPR and Standard First ;.A^^j^0^S^mn*tmity'. ••':-•'. '•••-. - • • \.' ' ^ph^idj^^Co^^ is allowing the Rescue Squad to Stay/Open The rescue squad definitely needs fun- '^dJiJjjf^l^^^^^SI^^'l^^'.service'\for the community of r^p^psjEQ^tiohAiMybe'sentto: • -. ' --\-- m \ jjntt ,•••••.[ • • • • ..; $®m&m *********** SSI 4> •& ** C^Qfr*'*' w®**** /receipts are made upon request. Persons 1 the Rescue Squad or holding benefits of Pat Thomas at the Rescue Squad Cindy Terrance ?\* - jjj •'•T':^#^^B '•* * ' - * ' - \ \ ' ^ * .-.-'-<•- '\7 '*-'?4&.'%; PS^a^i IE: J&F&t &r^ ^~ ^ '.'.r **« $fcj >JV' : •»i-'^s;. ~ ••i^f:.'} ' \Q. \ l^t.^V .» \m^'f te,'..\; . . \ -\-.\ t '• •' • •&? • ',- ^t ^fev^ .4-/'•'•: ,.-»>t.c.' •'..' ^^fi-. Akwesasne Emergency Team Needs Community Help & Funds AKWESASNE — The community of Akwesasne has been provided with a valuable community service by volunteers with the Akwesasne Emergency Team. The ambulance ser- vice has been serving the people of Akwesasne since 1982. The A.E.T. has operated on a volunteer basis for the past three years. Their funding they have operated on thus far has come from the community, the Health Services, the Tribai Council and the Mohawk Nation. The A.E.T. has squeezed through the years on a budget that is far from adequate and they have been operating with some needed advantages, the A.E T team bas never been provided with the use of a new ambulance. Therefore, they, cannot be certified from New York State Medicare or Medicaid. The used vehicles have broken down many times over the past three years, luckily the break downs have not occurred while on a life threatening run enroute to the hospital. The A.E.T. is in definite need of a new ambulance. The building for the A.E.T. team Is not yet complete. The building requires tar paper, vents, an insulated chimney kit, primer and paint (for the exterior), five interior doors, silicone chaulking, molding and flooring. Weather stripping, cement sealant, siding, soffitt and an exhaust fan is also need- ed to complete some work on the new building. Racks are needed for oxygen tanks, three sets of bunk beds, a coffee maker and a large refrigerator are also needed. Rain gutters and a retaining wall around the fill is also needed so that the base under the slab does not continue to wash away. The heating for the A.E.T. building used is electric baseboard heat. This heat is. supposed to be temporary, because it was the wrong kind of heat used to heat the garage. One month's bill for heating came to approximately 11,600. A different kind of heat is needed for the building. A combination wood and oil furnace with duct work would be ideal for use in the building. Residents could donate wood and local oil dealers could donate oil if the A.E.T. could somehow get a furnance/oil burner and the ducts. The rescue squad has a need for more volunteer Emergen- cy Medical Technicians, dispatchers and drivers. The squad has had to pay for the training of 22 people who became E.M.T's. There are now seven E.M.T.'s working, and of these seven, all are women. Good knowledge of the loca- tions of hospitals is needed to become a driver. Normal hear- ing is all that is needed to be a dispatcher. The rescue squad has no supply of uniforms. Uniforms are a necessity because they provide security and confidence to victims. Uniforms exude experience and this will provide emotional support for a person who could go into shock. Uniforms also provide identification. AH other rescue squads have uniforms for these reasons. The Akwesasne Emergency Team is well trained. The Massena Rescue Squad has had members Who were trained here. The E.M.T.'s are to be commended for their post work they have accomplished in the face of discouraging odds. Lets help them put in their time of need. Donate some of the material or labor towards their needs.- If you can't help with labor or material maybe you would be able to donate money, which could be used to purchase the much needed materials. Sometime in the future you may require their help. Cindy Terrance ^^^i^i&^i;A
