Activists without frontiers

Licenced by The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn, 1990.

This is a true American Indian story.

Exactly thirty years ago I witnessed, as a young student, a fierce battle over the expansion of a golf course in Oka (near Montreal, Canada). The expansion was on the Holy ground of the Mohawk people. Coincidentally, the terrain was called “The Pines” just like our “Pine Lane” (Dennenlaan).

The Mohawk Indians had run out of legal options, as the courts had rejected their attempts to put a halt to the development of The Pines. In their desperation, they resorted to an armed rebellion to defend their land and the Mohawk way of life. Makeshift barricades were guarded by armed “warriors”. The local community of Kanesatake was soon joined by the neighbouring Kahnawake, who blocked an important highway bridge over the Saint Lawrence River. The action got a lot of media attention and other native people from all across North America sent warriors to the area. The provincial security forces (Sûreté du Québec) could no longer deal with the situation, and the Canadian Federal Government were called in. The warriors were surrounded by thousands of soldiers with tanks, ships and helicopters. Fortunately, both sides showed sufficient restraint and a bloodbath was avoided. Although many “warriors” within the perimeter wanted to prolong the fight, the “squaws” were able to convince them to surrender. Eventually, after a very long time, the development plans were revoked. Since that period, much more attention has been paid to the rights of the First Nations in Canada.

In 2019 a Quebec land developer signed an agreement with the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake to return a parcel of 60 hectares of the Pines as an ecological gift through a Federal Government program.

All ended well.

Obviously, Semper Ferraris does not advocate any illegal actions, but we can learn from the passion and the dedication of the Mohawk who persevered against tremendous odds. They also teach us how pooling the resources of people and organisations outside a small community can really pay off and that a local issue can be brought to a higher level. In the long run it is possible to change the narrative of the relationship between men and nature.

For more background information, google: Oka Canada 1990

Author: Talking Moose

“When the last tree is cut and the last fish killed, the last river poisoned, then you will see that you can’t eat money.”
- Alanis Obomsawin