Oka Crisis facts for kids

The Oka Crisis, also known as the Kanesatake Resistance, was a major disagreement over land that happened in the summer of 1990 in Quebec, Canada. It was a 78-day standoff between a group of Mohawk people and the town of Oka. The conflict started when the town planned to expand a golf course onto a piece of land called The Pines. This land was sacred to the Mohawk people because it included their burial ground. The crisis, which lasted from July 11 to September 26, 1990, brought national attention to the issue of Indigenous land rights in Canada.

A Long History of Disagreement

The Land of Kanesatà:ke

The Mohawk people have lived in the area around Montreal for centuries. In the 1700s, a piece of land, including an area with pine trees known as "The Pines," was given to a French religious group called the Sulpicians. The Sulpicians were supposed to hold the land for the benefit of the Mohawk people who lived there.

However, over many years, the Sulpicians began to sell parts of the land to settlers. The Mohawk people always said the land was theirs and protested these sales. They sent letters and petitions to the government, but their claims were not recognized. By the 1950s, the Mohawk community of Kanesatà:ke was left with only a small piece of its original territory.

The Golf Course Plan

In 1959, the town of Oka allowed a nine-hole golf course to be built on part of the disputed land. Then, in March 1989, the golf club announced it wanted to expand the course to 18 holes. This expansion would be built on The Pines, right next to a Mohawk burial ground.

For the Mohawk people, this was unacceptable. Burial grounds are sacred places to honor ancestors. The community protested the plan, but the town decided to go ahead with the expansion. This decision set the stage for the crisis.

The 78-Day Standoff

The Barricade Goes Up

To stop the golf course expansion, Mohawk protesters set up a peaceful barricade on a dirt road leading to The Pines on March 11, 1990. They wanted to protect their sacred land. The town of Oka got a court order to have the barricade taken down, but the protesters refused to leave.

The Police Raid

On the morning of July 11, the Quebec provincial police (the Sûreté du Québec) moved in to remove the barricade. They used tear gas to try to force the protesters to leave.

The situation quickly became tense. Shots were fired, and during the confusion, a police officer, Corporal Marcel Lemay, was killed. After the firefight, the police pulled back, leaving their vehicles behind. This event marked the beginning of a long and serious standoff.

A Summer of Tension

Members of the Sûreté du Québec, the provincial police force, on September 3, 1990.

After the raid, more Mohawk warriors and supporters from Kanesatà:ke and the nearby community of Kahnawà:ke arrived. To show their support, Mohawk warriors in Kahnawà:ke blocked the Mercier Bridge, a major bridge leading into Montreal.

This bridge blockade caused huge traffic problems for people living in the suburbs. Some local residents became very angry, leading to protests and tense situations. Meanwhile, the Mohawk protesters at Oka strengthened their barricades. The police surrounded the area, creating a siege and cutting off supplies. Indigenous people from all over North America came to Oka to support the Mohawk cause.

Members of the Seton Lake Indian Band in British Columbia block a railway line to show support for the protesters at Oka.

The Army Is Called In

As the standoff continued for weeks, the situation grew more tense. On August 27, the Quebec government asked the Canadian Armed Forces for help. About 2,500 soldiers were sent to the area.

The army replaced the police and surrounded the Mohawk protesters. One of the most famous images from the crisis shows a young Mohawk warrior face-to-face with a Canadian soldier. This picture became a symbol of the standoff. The soldiers slowly took down the barricades, leaving the remaining protesters surrounded in a small area.

The End of the Standoff

After 78 days, the crisis came to a peaceful end on September 26, 1990. The remaining Mohawk protesters decided to leave their camp. As they left, many were arrested by the army. During the final moments, a 14-year-old Mohawk girl named Waneek Horn-Miller was injured by a soldier's bayonet.

What Happened After?

The golf course expansion was cancelled. The Canadian government bought the disputed land from the town of Oka to prevent any building on it. However, the land was not officially given to the Mohawk community, and the issue of who owns the land remains a topic of discussion.

The Oka Crisis was a turning point for Indigenous rights in Canada. It made people across the country and around the world pay attention to the land claims of First Nations people. It also led to changes in how the government and police deal with such situations in the future.

See also

In Spanish: Crisis de Oka para niños