Is Oka round 2 about to erupt?

January 22, 2010

With all of the headway CANACE has been making in bringing an end to race based policing in Ontario, I was somewhat surprised to learn today that the signs of another illegal occupation are beginning to surface. This time it’s not small town Ontario, but in Oka Quebec where the Canadian military had to be called in to quell Mohawk Warriors (a terrorist organization) in 1990.

The Oka crisis had many familiar hallmarks of Caledonia. An illegal occupation to prevent development on private land, a lack of action by the local police until it was too late, a riot, the blockade of a prominent highway, and a government that wanted to keep its hands clean of the situation.

The primary differences are that the Mohawk warriors murdered a police officer with a gunshot to the face, and the military was subsequently brought in to quell the riot. Extensive history of Oka can be found online so long as one is able to weed through the pro criminal propaganda.

The issue in 1990 was the expansion of a golf course, and today it’s development of land right across the street. Thus far media coverage is somewhat limited, but we’re hopeful that many more details will come out soon. Here’s what we know so far.

Indian Summer

An interesting take on the situation Canada is facing at the hands of Native Terrorists by Western Standard touching on such people as Jim Prentice, Phil Fontaine, Terry Nelson,  Angus Toulouse, Mike Harris, Dalton McGuinty, John Tory, and even Gary McHale (sort of). 

Also such Terrorists attacks as Oka where Mohawks shot and killed a cop, Ipperwash where they made Dudley George a martyr for being killed during battle with the OPP (yes they said during battle.. kudo’s Western Standard), the pathetic Ipperwhitewash Inquiry,  and Caledonia.

This one is definitely worth a read. Click here or on their interpretive art of how peace for June 29th was negotiated for the full story.

Quebec aboriginal chiefs to skip day of action protests

The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador has persuaded Quebec’s aboriginal leaders not to organize protests for a day of action designated by its national sister organization.

‘The Oka crisis 17 years ago taught us a lot about how something simple can turn into a major confrontation.’— Chief Stephen McGregor, Kitigan Zibi

“We do not want to blockade bridges, we wish to build some,” Picard said when he made the request last week, warning that “any attempt of blockade or demonstration of civil disobedience will be severely denounced.”

Read the full story here

Will there ever be peace?

RESTLESS SUMMER, PART II: $51M and 17 years later, the Oka crisis still has not been settled. Are we on the verge of a repeat?

The war never ended in Kanesatake, the Mohawk community at the centre of the Oka crisis, and now the government has been put on notice history might repeat itself.

Ottawa’s lead negotiator on the Kanesatake file has received two letters this year from the Kanesatake Women’s Coalition warning the federal government to stop negotiating with the band council. The letters say they could throw up a highway blockade or worse to force the issue.

Kanesatake Grand Chief Stephen Bonspille says the government would be wise not to take the letters, dated April 2 and March 12, lightly. He says the band council has kept the community in the dark over land claim negotiations.

Read the full story here

DAY OF PROTEST OR CONFLICT?

Canada’s native leaders are walking a fine line as they plan for a national day of protest on June 29. They hope to be dramatic enough to draw attention to poverty on reserves, stalled land claims and other issues, yet most insist they aren’t thinking blockades or confrontation.

“We don’t want to cause a major disruption in the lives of Canadians, but at the same time, we also want to make sure they understand that this is a crisis,” Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said in an interview this week from Ottawa. Fontaine himself recently pointed out that public sympathy for aboriginal concerns was highest during the Oka crisis in 1990. (EDIT: Phil feels killing a cop made us more sympathetic toward them?.. sure Phil)

Read the full story here

Native violence sparked public support, national chief says

The violent 1990 standoff at the Oka native reserve near Montreal triggered a spike in public support for aboriginal issues, Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said Wednesday.

“The highest level of support for our position was during (the Oka) crisis,” he recalled, in reference to the dispute between the Mohawk residents and the Quebec police. The standoff, which led to the shooting death of an officer, became a rallying cry for native anger and frustration. (Edit: The murder of a police officer by Terrorists sparked support for the terrorists is what I believe I am reading right now. Anyone else see a problem with this picture?)

The prospect of a long summer of native protests has been growing, with native chiefs like Manitoba’s Terry Nelson advocating a hardline approach that includes shutting down rail lines.

Read the full story here

Oka a high point in sympathy for natives: Chief

The violent and fatal standoff between Mohawks and Canadian soldiers in Oka, Que., 17 years ago marked a high point in Canadian sympathy for aboriginal issues, says Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.The pointed reference to the summer-long crisis came Wednesday as chiefs from across Canada gathered to discuss a so-called Day of Action planned for June 29. Like Oka, the day could involve blockades.

A Quebec police officer died in the thick of the Oka crisis. (EDIT: Where’s your sympathy for him and his family Fontaine???)

“The highest level of support for our position was during that crisis, that’s the highest level of support that Canadians have ever expressed for our issues,” Fontaine said in response to a reporter’s question about the effectiveness of civil disobedience.

“Are we asking for a similar kind of situation so we can get Canadians to once again support us as they did back then? Not at all … but they don’t know well enough the situation we’re in.”

“I won’t condemn the people at Caledonia or those who have taken this recent action,” said Fontaine.

Read the full story here

Remember Oka video series now online

Oka 1990. A 21 part, 74 minute video series about the Terrorist occupation in Quebec by Natives which saw a police officer murdered is now online.

View the full series here