The Oka Crisis

In March 1990, in Oka, Quebec, plans for the extension of a golf course were made. The Mohawk First Nation's felt that this was their land. They set up a barricade on the roads leading to this land. Many Mohawk protestors walked the streets. The Oka police force were called in, then the RCMP. Later, the Canadian Army was called in. Gunfire was exchanged between the two groups, and a Corporal from the police force was shot and killed in the chaos. People across Canada were shocked by this display. Other First Nations Groups across Canada protested. I think that the reasons the Oka Crisis got so out of hand was because the Mohawks should have owned that land to begin with, the Mohawks were not consulted about building the golf course, and both the Mohawks and the Police should have tried to solve the problem peacefully.

The area of land outside of Oka, Quebec is very important to the Mohawk First Nations. They believe that this area of land is a burial ground and the location of a sacred grove of pine trees planted by their ancestors. The Mohawks have claimed this land since 1717, and it is a very historic place to them. In 1986 the federal Office of Native Claims turned down their claim on the land, but the Mohawk's they still maintained that the land was theirs by right. I think that the land should have been given to the Mohawks since they had been their for a long time and it was very important to them.

The Mohawks should have been consulted about the idea of building a golf course. Even if they didn't own the land, it is important to them and they should have some say in the matter. Instead, the Mayor of Oka made the plans to expand the golf course without even recognizing the Mohawk Nation. I think that the Mohawks were a big part of that lands history. As I stated before, they lived there much longer then any of the white people and they should have been a big part of the decision making process about whether or not to build a golf course.

This problem could have been solved much more peacefully. The Mohawks had been ignored for a long time, so when they set up the blockade and protested, they finally got some attention. However, when the police showed up, they launched tear gas and concussion grenades at the blockade. Many people tried to stone some of the natives, and many natives were roughed up. The chaos created resulted in a corporal of the police force getting killed. I think that the armed forces shouldn't have tried to settle the matter forcefully, but should have listened to the protestors and tried to understand and help them.

The Oka Crisis was a sad mark on Canada's History. Our treatment of the Mohawks was not a good thing, and many bad things resulted from it. I feel that the land should have been the Mohawks to start with. Also, the Mohawks should have been consulted about the plans for the golf course. Finally, violence is almost never the answer, and it should not have been what we resorted to to solve this crisis.