Oka Confrontation

Part A

There are four points on the Oka Crisis Timeline which could have been an opportunity for the Oka people or the Mohawks to avoid or resolve confrontations. One would be in 1961 when it was decided that a golf course be built on the land of the Mohawks. If the people of Oka had thought about it and the issues it could cause it would have saved the future from a lot of chaos. Second, in 1990 the confrontation could have been avoided if the Mohawks hadn't set up barricades. Instead they could have tried making their viewpoints known in a more peaceful way. Third, on April 5th when the land was declared illegally occupied the Mohawk people could have accepted it and moved on. Fourth, on July 11 when the SWAT team came in, they could have handled things in a much more peaceful way. People didn't have to die.

Part B

There are a couple ways we can avoid incidents like the Oka Crisis in the future. The first and best way would be to ask people who own land if they can use it, or buy it off them. People need to be notified about this kind of stuff. It is unfair to just take things from people because you have more power than them. The Mohawk people's land claims were never settled, but they still have a sense of possession of it. There is another thing that can be done that I think would really help to avoid incidents like this in the future. It is that the Canadian government should always recognize the rights of the aboriginal people. They occupied Canada first and they are or should be recognized as equal to all of us. There shouldn't violence within our own country because we want to keep our reputation as a peaceful country.

The Oka Timeline

1. In 1717 the Mohawk nation claimed a portion of land to be theirs.

2.In 1961 a gold course was built on part of the land claimed by the Mohawk people.

3. In 1977 the Mohawks filed a claim on their land

4.In 1986 the Mohawk land claims were turned down by the Office of Native Claims, but the Mohawks still believed the land was rightfully theirs.

5. In 1989 it was announced that the golf course was going to be extended on to the Mohawk people's land.

6. On March 10 the Mohawks set up barricades blocking access to their land.

7.On April 1st about 300 Mohawk people and other protestors marched through the village of Oka.

8. On April 5th it is declared that the land was illegally occupied.

9. On July 11 a SWAT team was sent to break up the barricades, and an officer was killed.

10. On August 14 the premier of Quebec invoked the National Defence Act, which allowed him to send in the military.

11. On September 26 the Mohawk people gave up, they had had enough.

12. In June of 1991 the government started the First Nations Policing Policy.

The Oka Crisis

The Oka Crisis was a big event. There are three important aspects of the issue. The first would be Canada's failure to inform the Mohawks about their plans. Second, the first nations people wanted to be recognized as an independent people in Canada. And third, the Mohawks were willing to do anything to fight for their rights.

Canada has had problems with informing people about their plans. All throughout history decisions have been made by the government that have caused conflicts with the aboriginal people. They seem to think that they can do anything and they ignore the rights of the aboriginal people. The Mohawks had no idea that the government wanted to build a golf course on their land until they were getting ready to do so. It is completely unfair to take their land without asking them.

Ever since Europeans came over and started assimilating the first nations the people have wanted independence. As they see it, they were here first, they shouldn't have to adopt the European ways. And since eurocentrism has caused their cultures to be minimized they want to at least be recognized as their own nation. They want to govern themselves in their lands. They need some freedom.

The Mohawk people didn't want their land to be taken over. So they built barricades to their land so that nobody could get through. They guarded them with all they had. When the Quebec police forces began to get involved it became dangerous. Weapons were being fired and a fight broke out. People lost their lives, but that didn't change the natives views on the situation. Eventually it got to be too much, so they gave up. But because of their fight the plans for the golf course were cancelled. Agreements were changed and the Mohawks gained more recognition.

The Oka Crisis was a big event. This issue had three major aspects. The government didn't recognize the Mohawk first nations as a nation. The natives wanted to be recognized and be independent. And the natives fought for their rights, making a statement that changed many things. This issue isn't something that Canada is proud of, but it was an awakening to a blind country.