Akwesasne among those condemning nuclear waste shipment

AKWESASNE – Akwesasne is among a group of seven First Nations objecting to a proposed plan to ship radioactive waste from Deep River to the United States.

The 23,000 liters of toxic liquid would be shipped by truck from Chalk River Laboratories to South Carolina.

The group is worried that a spill along the route could damage water supplies including the St. Lawrence River or one of the Great Lakes.

Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict said there is no reason to continue with a plan that puts people at risk when alternatives already exist.

Benedict is calling on everyone to take a stand until, as he calls it, common sense prevails.

Akwesasne is part of the group called the Iroquois Caucus, which also has representatives from Kahnawake, Kanesatake, Tyendinaga near Belleville, Six Nations and the Wahta Mohawks in Muskoka.