August 15, 2025 – Next week, the Province of Ontario plans to spray glyphosate-based herbicides (chemical weed-killers) over parts of the Nipissing Forest. This forest is on Nbisiing traditional territory.
Glyphosate is the main chemical in Roundup, a weed-killer used to kill plants and underbrush (small plants and shrubs that grow under trees) to make space for tree crops like pine. This chemical has been linked to serious health problems (such as cancer, nerve damage, and reproductive problems) and harm to the environment.
Nipissing First Nation does not agree with spraying of glyphosate over large areas of forest for forest management (methods used to control how a forest grows). There is conflicting data on how these chemicals and their by-products (metabolites – substances made when the chemical breaks down) affect humans. There is also no solid scientific proof that they are safe for our traditional resources: the animals and plants that we, as Nishnaabeg (the people of Nipissing), harvest.
We call on the Government of Ontario to stop the planned spraying and instead use manual thinning crews (workers who remove plants by hand or tools) to care for the forest in a safe and sustainable way. The Ministry of Natural Resources should consult with First Nations because this spraying could harm Nishnaabeg and the animals that live in our forests.
Nipissing First Nation Chief and Council
Media inquiries
Hillary Shabogesic
Communications Manager
[email protected] | 705-753-2050 ext. 1270 | (c) 705-498-2507
