OKA CRISIS

The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between the Mohawk nation and the town of Oka, Quebec that began on July 11, 1990, and lasted until September 26, 1990. It resulted in one direct and two indirect deaths, and was the first of a number of well-publicized violent conflicts between First Nations and the Canadian government in the late 20th century. The town does not have the right to build a golf course because it is not their land to do so. The Mohawk nation made a barricade, not allowing the town to work on the golf course.

The crisis developed from a dispute between the town of Oka and the Mohawk community of Kanesatake. The Mohawk nation had been pursuing a land claim that included a burial ground and a sacred grove of pine trees near Kanesatake. This brought them into conflict with the town of Oka, which was developing plans to expand a golf course onto the land.

The town does not have the right to expand the golf course because it is not their land to do so. They didn’t even ask the Mohawk nation for permission to expand the golf course. When they tried to stop them the whole situation out of control.

The Mohawk nation made a barricade, not allowing the town to work on the golf course. On July 11 a SWAT team launched tear gas and concussion grenades to break up the barricade. A police officer was shot and killed. The whole thing was flying out of proportion.

The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between the Mohawk nation and the town of Oka, Quebec that began on July 11, 1990, and lasted until September 26, 1990. The SWAT team was called in to control the barricade. The whole thing just spun out of control.