Chief James Marlowe of the 艁utsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 Dene First Nation wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 even 10 years old when the news of a nuclear-powered satellite plummeting from outer space reached his community.
The infamous Soviet Cosmos 954 fell out of orbit in late January 1978 and the world was left in wonder as to where it would land., 艁utsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 SA国际影视传媒� then known as Snowdrift SA国际影视传媒� became among the remote communities that gained international attention as the remains of the satellite scattered across the east and south of Great Slave Lake.
More than 40 years later, Marlowe says he believes the community is still suffering from the negative impacts of potential radiation poisoning of the land and water and he wants the federal government to help address it.
SA国际影视传媒淩ight now I am concerned as Chief of 艁utsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 Dene First Nation because of recent deaths in the community related to cancers,SA国际影视传媒� he explained. SA国际影视传媒淚t seems like in the past few years almost every death in the community is cancer related.
SA国际影视传媒淲e think that the effects of Cosmos in 1978 are now affecting our members. It has almost been 50 years and things are starting to happen in the community to people of all ages.SA国际影视传媒�
The Canadian and American governments had conducted flyover and ground surveys for months following the crash. Canada has stated that the amount of radioactivity in the environment from the satellite had been minimal largely because the satellite was designed to burn up in the atmosphere upon reentry from space.
In a March 13, 1978 issue of News of the North, for example, Dr. Henri Rothschild, a representative from the federal Department of the Environment and expert in bionucleonics (i.e. nuclear medicine) stated that only SA国际影视传媒渁 fractionSA国际影视传媒� of radioactivity that is typically released in nuclear weapons testing was found in the Great Slave Lake Area. He further noted that very few byproducts were found, so it meant most of the satellite and fuel on board had in fact burned up in the atmosphere.
Marlowe, however, says he isnSA国际影视传媒檛 convinced all debris was uncovered based on what he has seen among community members who rely on plants and animals directly from the immediate environment for food and drink.
SA国际影视传媒淲e mostly still live a healthy lifestyle, we use traditional, country food and have limited access to processed food, junk food,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f (the cancer incidents) are related to Cosmos 954 the community has to be compensated and there has to be research done to find out the effects of radiation.SA国际影视传媒�
Richard Edjericon, MLA for Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh called for a public inquiry on March 29 in the Legislative Assembly, noting that the Dene depend on clean land and water and should have a full understanding of the fallout of the crash and be compensated for any lasting effects.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is a real concern about lasting health effects from the crash which may be the reasons for increased rates of cancer or other illness,SA国际影视传媒� he told the assembly.
