Oka Crisis Essay

The Oka Crisis, otherwise known as The Mohawk Standoff, is a major symbol of unresolved issues in Canadian history. The background and timeline of this crisis unfold racial tensions, police brutality, the commencement of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and the initiation of ongoing issues of land disputes between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples of Canada.

The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between the Mohawks, a tribe of First Nations settlers, and the town of Oka, Quebec. ‘It was the first publicized violent conflict between the Aboriginals and the Canadian government. It started on July 11th, 1990 and ended on September 26th, 1990, lasting for 78 days. This crisis commenced when the town of Oka wanted an extension to

They suffered at the hands of the provincial police. “[The police] took my cousin Angus Jacob and brought him to the back of a barn and handcuffed him to a metal chair. They pulled his pants down and they started electrocuting his testicles to get him to talk,” said Serge Simon, grand chief of Kanesatake. (3) ‘Many protesters faced criminal charges, but most were not found guilty.’ (4) ‘An investigation held after the crisis revealed problems within the provincial police’s handling of the situation, one of which being prejudice from some members of the police force in Quebec towards the Mohawks.’ (8) Aboriginal peoples in Canada continue to face discrimination, and face criminal charges for crimes they did not commit. ‘Aboriginal people make up only 4% of the Canadian population, but approximately 23.3% of the federal inmate population is Aboriginal.’

‘Not only did the construction of the golf course continue while the Mohawks filed a legal protest (which was heard and lost), but they were never handed over the land by the federal or provincial government.’ (3) ‘The Privy Council said the Mohawks could not assert title over the land because they “had not been in the area for time immemorial.” They said Mohawk presence in the region did not pre-date European presence. However, this claim is flawed due to the fact that the government described Mohawks as “descendants of the Iroquois, Algonquians, and Nipissings,” all of whom used that territory prior to and since the arrival of the Europeans. The Kanesatake people, today, under Canadian law live on federal Crown lands reserved for their use, but do not live on lands clearly having status as an Indian Act reserve. There is no clear legislative regime applicable to provide administration of these lands.’ (7) The disputed territory remains an unsettled issue. The Aboriginal minority was victorious when Aboriginal and treaty rights were affirmed in Canada’s constitution, but this did not end their struggles and they continued to face