Shirley Tong/ Staff reporter 

Canada’s rich history is deeply rooted in the presence of its Indigenous peoples, whose legacy predates the arrival of European settlers by thousands of years. However, these Indigenous people have been continuously subjected to unequal treaties, land conflicts, cultural oppression, and ongoing fights for rights and recognition. According to “‘Don’t have the resources, we just have the passion’: Ellen Gabriel on being a Mohawk land defender for 31 years”, “We’re trying to get a better life and have access to our lands and territories and help uplift our languages,” said Gabriel, Mohawk spokesperson during the Oka Crisis. Understanding past events such as this Crisis is critical for reconciliation to develop a more inclusive society, as demonstrated by Gabriel’s ongoing commitment to Mohawk land defence and cultural renewal throughout the Oka Crisis and beyond.

About Ellen Gabriel

According to “Native Leaders of Canada”, (1959–) Ellen Gabriel, Katsi’tsakwas. She is a visual artist as well as an Indigenous human rights activist. When Ms. Gabriel was selected by the People of the Longhouse and her Kanehsatà:ke community to serve as their spokesman during the 1990 “Oka” Crisis, the public became familiar with her.

What is Oka Crisis?

The 1990 Oka Crisis stands out as a compelling example of Indigenous resistance to continued colonial abuses. It began as a local dispute after the municipality of Oka, Quebec, planned to expand a golf course in a White Pine Forest, a traditional burial ground for the Mohawk people.

“I saw the tactical squad start to organize at the base of the hill in the early morning. When I started seeing them going up, I said to myself, ‘They’re going up there to kill everybody,'”

said Kanehsatà:ke Council Grand Chief Serge Simon, in the article “Thirty years later, there are still scars from the Oka Crisis”.

The following conflict peaked on July 11, 1990, when provincial police attacked a protest camp in the Pines and shots were exchanged. The Mohawk people, led by Gabriel and others, peacefully protested the expansion, resulting in a 78-day standoff with Canadian officials and the military.

How did the Oka Crisis start?

Lasted 78- Day

How could this crisis last 78 days? Loreen Pindera‘s “78 Days of Unrest and an Unresolved Land Claim Hundreds of Years in the Making” describes the events in detail. In March 1990, the Mohawk people set up a barricade to stop a golf course expansion on their land. The town got a court order to remove the barrier, but the situation turned violent when shots were fired, which resulted in horrific bullets killing Corporal Marcel Lemay of the SQ.

The police fled, abandoning their cruisers and a bulldozer, and the victorious Mohawk warriors used them to barricade the roadway that runs through Kanehsatà:ke, blocking a bridge that connected Montreal to the south shore. The inconvenience to thousands of people’s daily travels sparked and led supplies to Kanehsatà:ke to be abruptly cut off.

“His superior officer took his stripes and ripped them off his sleeve because he allowed us to put little things in the (food) boxes that shouldn’t have been there. People would try and slip messages in the food boxes (for the Warriors behind the barricades)”

said Linda Simon, a Kanehsatà:ke resident who lived through the crisis, mentioned by “Quotes from various Oka-related players”

The Quebec Premier asked the Canadian government to send in the military. On August 20th, 4,000 soldiers arrived and negotiated an end to the blockade in exchange for cancelling the golf course plan. However, the military wasn’t ready for the sudden surrender of the remaining protesters, and things ended chaotically. After a 78-day standoff, Oka Mohawk warriors abandoned the barricades. Mohawk soldiers gradually came from the forest and peace was restored. The military apprehended several warriors, and the SQ later accused several. Five were convicted of crimes, including assault and theft, although just one spent time in jail.

During the Oka Crisis VS. the Clean Pines after 30 years

Scars remain

The Crisis did not lead to the area being designated as a reserve, nor was there an organized transfer of ownership to the Mohawks of Kanehsatà:ke. The Crisis prompted the establishment of the Royal Commission on Indigenous Peoples, which was charged with improving consultation and collaboration between First Nations and governments across Canada. Still, the resistance inspired Indigenous peoples throughout Canada to act. According to “Bloody Blockades: The Legacy of the Oka Crisis”, the newest controversy over the building of a gas pipeline through Wet’suwet’en land in British Columbia appears to be a repetition of the Oka Crisis. The current strategy for dealing with First Nations’ land rights does not appear to have changed significantly in the last 30 years, many people are wondering what it will take for the Canadian government to finally learn from its track record of failing to protect First Nations’ rights and commit to reconciliation. Yet, this nonviolent demonstration effectively raised awareness about the conflict and compelled the federal government to find a resolution.

  • The Coastal Gasoline pipeline through the Wet’suwet’en territory
  • The Wet’suwet’en Pipeline & Canadian-Indigenous Legal Conflict
  • Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs

How does this relate to Gleneagle students?

For our Gleneagle students, the Oka Crisis is relevant because it marks an important turning point in Indigenous-settler relations in Canada. It’s a chance for students to grasp the significance of advocating for justice and creating understanding among diverse communities. Understanding the core causes and consequences of the Oka Crisis can help students develop empathy and a commitment to resolving past injustices. Learning aboriginal history is important for Gleneagle students because it teaches students to care about others’ experiences and work towards making society fairer for everyone.

Teacher showing the Indigenous writers’ books
Truth and reconciliation in class

Conclusion

The Mohawk people fought for their land and rights during the crucial Oka Crisis in Canadian history. It brought attention to the necessity of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations and lasted for 78 days. Even while nothing changed immediately away, it increased awareness and sparked discussions on Indigenous rights. Children need to learn about empathy, justice, and the value of respecting different cultures from multiple events in Indigenous history.

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