The court of last resort: The 1990 OKA crisis and the Canadian Forces

摘要

For many, the 1990 Oka Crisis was seen as a defining moment in Native-Canadian relations. Answers to the all encompassing question of why the standoff between radical elements of the Mohawk Nation and the institutions of the Government of Canada occurred are complex and controversial. In reality, Oka was only one example of the culture clash that had been festering between various governmental administrations and First Nations Peoples for over 300 years. This convergence of cultures was made worse by successive governmental policies in relation to Native affairs and land claims. Equally contentious was the decision of the Province of Quebec to invoke the legislation of Aid to the Civil Power forcing the deployment of the Canadian Forces, 4,500 strong, to Kanesatake and Kaneawake. The actions of the Mohawk population, the various Mohawk Band Councils, the Mohawk Warrior Society, the governments of Canada, local police forces, the Canadian Forces and the media all made the Oka Crisis extremely polemic.;To detail the events and historical background of the Oka Crisis attempts were made to attain all of the primary resources now available. The majority of these documents and sources were not accessible in 1991-1993 when most of the previous literature on Oka was written. In relation, interviews and correspondence was sought out with Mohawks, Canadian Forces personnel and government officials who were active during the crisis itself.;The Oka Crisis was not an isolated event; rather, it was the 300 year long convergence of two distinct cultures which culminated in a violent clash in the microcosm of Oka. As the historical record of these three centuries indicates, the Oka Crisis was inevitable. In accordance, the deployment of the Canadian Forces to quell this armed standoff was also unavoidable. The failure of the local police forces to remove the barricades by force, coupled with an impasse in political negotiations, created an atmosphere in Mohawk country that was beyond the scope of the Surete du Quebec. The assistance of the Canadian Forces was secured through Aid to the Civil Power . The Province of Quebec had gone to the court of last resort.