Québec History 34 - The Oka Crisis

The Mohawks community was formally founded in the early 1700s. Mohawk had used the territory as a hunting ground since the late sixtenth century. Historians and anthropologists believe they pushed out, annexed or destroyed the St. Lawrence "Iroquoians", a distinct Laurentian group, discovered by Jacques Cartier, who had inhabited villages along the St. Lawrence River since at least the 1300s. This is one of several reserves or settlements where the Mohawks are self-governing in Canada, including Kahnawake, Akwesasne and the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation.

After the great peace of Montréal, to encourage the Mohawks to move their people near Montréal, the French governor gave them a grant for nearly nine square miles at the Lake of Two Mountains. The Sulpician Order, which had established a mission with the Mohawk, received a smaller grant for land next to them. The religious order had the deeds changed so that all the land was granted to the Mohawks. Believing the Order supervised land in trust for them, the Mohawks did not discover the deception until the late 19th century. They lost a land claim case in the late 20th century on technical issues.

In 1990 Oka's planed to develop a pine grove and cemetery for another nine holes of a private golf course and new luxury housing. The land had long been used by the Mohawk. Their ancestors' tombstones stand in the cemetery. A few years' previously, the Mohawk had lost a federal lawsuit claim for the land, when the Court rejected their argument that they had been granted the land in the early 18th century but deprived by deception of the Sulpician Order, which they understood was holding the land in trust for them. In response to city moves to develop the land, the Mohawk barricaded a dirt road leading to it.

The city requested support from the Sûreté du Québec. They barricaded highway 344 leading to Kanesataka. In the first days of the confrontation, a police officer was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Mohawk. In solidarity, Mohawk from Kahnawake blockaded the approach to the Mercier Bridge, which passed through their land. Residents of the area became enraged about traffic delays. Later the Canadian Army was send.

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[MrBiejos]

This propaganda spreader said "what they claim as their lands" How ignorant!!!

"Then something remarkable the Mohawk women cleared their men" This statement shows the ignorants the Canadians still have after all this time. The women always ruled over the throw away people [warriors]

I wish the Canadian women would rise up And control their men!!!

I want 12 old women who have seen and lived everything to lead us and their mandate would be the well-being of children 7 generations from now.

Peace

[Patriote17]

@MrBiejos it was also a difference of culture in the past, natives were matriarchal society, european were patriarchal society. In natives society women had more authority then men, in european society it was the contrary.

[hutch1111111]

The cops shot their own guy! Mr Lemay was killed by his comrades

[Patriote17]

@hutch1111111 many people say that, but official report say the Mohawks killed him. He was shot in the face during a firefight with the warriors. I don't think they really know who killed him, there was no bulet in him.

[MrSkindian]

RED POWER!!!!

[ZOEWUWUANGIE]

canadian government was like that, once upon a time

[PackOfPeterJackson]

@AtomicSpeck I absolutely agree, I agree with helping to preserve nature and living more naturally. I believe in growing my own food, using less harmful products on the environment, preserving forests and the list goes on.....

[AtomicSpeck]

@PackOfPeterJackson But there is always an inherent reponsibility to land.

[AtomicSpeck]

@AtomicSpeck I should also mention that the only non-bias info on this incident comes from the media coverage "at that time" which is included in the documentary entitled: Kanehsatake 270 Years of Resistance.

[AtomicSpeck]

@Patriote17 The report actually says that a bullet struck him from under the arm which wasnt protected by the bullet proof vest he was wearing. It also claims that a bullet was found.

[PackOfPeterJackson]

@KYRAN141 Shut up angry racist. Nobody truely owns land.

[iStupifyYOU]

@cradleofhaiden go back to europe you mutherfucker .

[iStupifyYOU]

@greekkolindros you fucking little hairy greek, Go back to your shitty poor country and riot on the streets you animal. I also love how greece is turning into a white version of a african country.