What HappenedThe Oka Crisis began on July 11, 1990, in Oka, Quebec. This conflict started when the Non-Aboriginal community in Oka wanted to expand an existing golf course and build new condos onto land that the Mohawks in the Kanesatake reserve considered to be burial ground. Before this conflict, the Mohawks had filed several land claims for this specific piece of land, but they were all denied. |
In retaliation, the Mohawks started a protest and set up barricades to prevent any construction on their traditional land. The conflict quickly escalated when The Quebec police, the Sûreté du Québec, attacked with tear gas, concussion grenades and guns. This resulted in the death of police officer, Corporal Marcel Lemay. After the involvement of RCMP and Canadian Armed Forces, the conflict finally came to an end on September 26, 1990. (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca) |