Events leading to the Oka Crisis

In the episode entitled "Kanesatake: Let's talk about what happened long before the 'Oka Crisis'" on "The Secret Life of Canada" podcast, a conversation was held that detailed the history of events that led to the Oka Crisis.  The history that led to this is so important because it dates back as early as the 1600.  We learned that distinct societies one of which was the Mohawks came together under the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Great Law that governed them.  When the Mohawks were given a piece of land in Montreal and promised that if they moved there the land would be there's and that they would never have to move again.  The priests that went with them to this land tried to convert them to Catholics and then the  priest began the horrible process of selling pieces of this land which did not belong to them  Many letters were sent to the Governor General of Canada from Joseph Onasakenrat a Mohawk who became a Chief who faught  to try to remove the priest,   Joseph was arrested by the priests and kept writing letter to no avail until the land was give to the priests and was now called Oka. after this the agreements did not go forgotten and generation of protests led to the Oka crisis when the town of Oka wanted to expand a 9 hole golf course to 18 holes and build a condo. The Mohawks said no and set up a protest.

This is so important because today, we only see the protests and the blockades and people get angry and don't understand why and how deep rooted this all is.  We need to learn more about the history before we could understand the significance of their actions.  Without this background we are ignorant.  

Writing this in a blog allows me to follow the series of events by reading about it.  In a blog you get a feeling of being able to express and detail the events. 

 

Patrick Cloutier, a 'Van Doo' perimeter sentry, and Anishinaabe Warrior Brad Larocque, facing off became one of Canada's most widely circulated images.