Oka Crisis Research Paper

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Oka Crisis The Mohawk warriors were peaceful protestors, and succeeded in protecting their land. They resisted great pain and suffering and were rewarded for their sacrifice. The Mohawk warriors at Oka did carry the burden of peace because they were peacefully protecting their land, there was no act of violence shown by the Mohawk warriors at Oka against the army, and in the end they had peacefully walked out without putting a fight. According to Marian Scott form the Montreal Gazette, the Mohawks had used the Pines, to graze their livestock and cut wood. Since the 18th century Mohawk members and Mohawk warriors have been protesting peacefully and pressing the government to recognize their land claims, but their requests would always be …show more content…

The Oka and Chateauguay have been suffering from the 18th century pressing the government to recognize their right to the land. When the war broke out, the Mohawks seized the Mercier Bridge with arms as an act of solidarity and also put pressure on the Quebec government. The Mercier bridge was the Mohawks only major bargaining chip. Closing the bridge “was the only major deterrent we had to not have confrontation,” said Two Rivers. For neighbouring suburbs and residents of Châteauguay the summers became hell for them. It was hell for them because the barricades on the highway trapped people inside or outside the besieged communities, because of scarce food. The Surete du Quebec are uniformed thugs because they intervened in the Oka crisis without knowing about the situation. “At dawn, more than 100 black-clad, helmeted Sûreté du Québec officers, led by the SWAT team, massed outside the Mohawk barricade to launch an ill-fated assault on the Pines.” (montrealgazette). They Surete du Quebec attacked the barricades, using tear gas and concussion grenades, they also established blockade down hill from Mohawk warrior blockade. The Surete du Quebec were just uniformed bullies, ready to beat Mohawk

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