Rocks at Whiskey Trench facts for kids

Rocks at Whiskey Trench (French: Pluie de pierres à Whiskey Trench) is a Canadian documentary film. It was directed by Alanis Obomsawin and came out in 2000. The film tells the story of an important event during the Oka Crisis in 1990. It focuses on a time when Mohawk women and children from Kahnawake were leaving their community. They were attacked with rocks as they crossed a bridge into Montreal.

This film was made by the National Film Board of Canada. It was released in both English and French. The movie was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Feature Length Documentary. This is a major award for films in Canada.

About the Film

Rocks at Whiskey Trench is a documentary. This means it tells a true story using real events and people. The film is about a difficult time in Canadian history. It shows the events from the point of view of the Mohawk people.

The Oka Crisis

The film is set during the Oka Crisis of 1990. This was a big land dispute in Quebec, Canada. It started when the town of Oka wanted to expand a golf course. This land was important to the nearby Kahnawake Mohawk community. The Mohawk people said the land was theirs and had been for a long time.

The dispute lasted for 78 days. It involved protests and standoffs. People from the Mohawk community set up blockades. They wanted to protect their land and their rights.

The Bridge Blockade

One important part of the crisis was the blockade of the Honoré Mercier Bridge. This bridge connects the Kahnawake community to Montreal. Mohawk people blocked the bridge to protest the land dispute. This caused a lot of traffic problems for people living nearby.

The blockade created tension between the Mohawk community and other people. It also led to a strong presence of police and soldiers.

The Whiskey Trench Incident

The film focuses on a specific event. This happened when some Mohawk families were leaving Kahnawake. They were worried about the safety of their community. They were being moved out by Canadian soldiers.

As they crossed a part of the bridge known as Whiskey Trench, a crowd of people gathered. These people were angry about the bridge blockade. They started throwing rocks at the cars carrying the Mohawk women and children. The film shows how scary and unfair this moment was for those involved.

Making the Film

The film was directed by Alanis Obomsawin. She is a famous Indigenous filmmaker from Canada. She is known for making documentaries about Indigenous rights and experiences. She also wrote and narrated the film.

The National Film Board of Canada produced the film. They are a well-known Canadian film company. They often make documentaries that explore important social issues.

Awards and Recognition

Rocks at Whiskey Trench was recognized for its importance. It received a nomination for Best Feature Length Documentary at the 21st Genie Awards. The Genie Awards were a major film award ceremony in Canada. This nomination showed that the film was seen as a powerful and important work.