The 1990 Siege of Kanehsatake, a 78-day standoff between the Mohawk protestors, the Quebec provincial police and the Canadian military, was a result of one of the many ways the Canadian government has marginalized and dispossessed Indigenous peoples. Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, narrated and directed by Alanis Obomsawin, details what happened before and after this standoff, shedding light on the non-recognition faced by the Mohawks of Kanehsatake, the mistreatment and violence they received from the Canadian Armed Forces, and the steps they took to fight back. It retells this flashpoint event from a biased western perspective and educates viewers on why it was not a crisis, but rather a fight for Indigenous rights. The Canadian government went to great lengths to disregard the rights of the Mohawks to their land, with various levels …show more content…
A major one was their failure to consult the people of Oka about the proposed golf course expansion. In a scene with Oka resident Luc Boivin, he discusses the Mayor of Oka’s ignorance, highlighting how he dismissed the Oka people's suggestions to avoid building on the land and disregarded concerns from the Quebec Minister of Environment. In another scene, a different resident criticizes the town council for neglecting their responsibility to the community, while still making decisions on its behalf. As tensions rise and the Mohawk community begin protesting, the provincial government continues the pattern of apathy by sending army officials to dismantle peaceful barricades as well as the Oka peace camp. In the film, there are many scenes of men, women, and children of all ages engaging in Indigenous political organization. The Mohawk Warriors play a crucial role in defending the people and safeguarding the barricades. The Mohawk women are especially vital in leading the resistance. Ellen Gabriel mentions in the film that the women see it as their innate responsibility to protect their