Mohawk warriors from Kanesatake in Oka, Quebec are again resisting encroachment on their ancestral lands - this time by corporate developer of luxury homes Norfolk Financial. Around 30 Kanesatake warriors confronted Norfolk developer Normand Ducharme and his entourage today after Ducharme arrived on disputed Kanesatake land looking to survey, cut away ‘dead trees’ and begin marking off locations for potential construction. [source] This latest encroachment by profiteers is taking place despite positive and ongoing negotiations between the provincial government and Mohawk leaders on resititution and land entitlements.
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| Mohawks mobilizing to confront developer (Aug 6, 2010) |
While most Kanestake residents were dressed in regular clothing, a few wore masks and camouflage, and were heard threatening Ducharme if he didn't leave immediately.
Twenty years after the infamous “Oka Crisis”, Kanesatake Mohawks are still fighting for their rights with the Quebec government, as developers and corporations are lining up to eventually rush in to exploit the land and peoples who have lived there for hundreds of years.
Norfolk Financial wants to build luxury homes on the property despite a long-standing freeze on “development” mandated by the elected municipality of Oka. Oka Mayor Richard Lalonde said Friday he hopes the issue can be resolved through negotiations. [source] Kanesatake Grand Chief Sohenrise Paul Nicholas accused the developer of orchestrating a publicity stunt, and opening old wounds – and said the Mohawk council is considering pressing charges against Ducharme:
"I'm disappointed with Norfolk for coming in and provoking what I would consider almost a riot today. This is a situation that pushes people's buttons emotionally. We're 20 years after the crisis and people still have issues with policing and land in the area. Them coming in is just a tactic to increase the value of their land. It was just a big publicity stunt." [source]
He was also optimistic that the long-simmering land dispute over the property would soon be resolved, once and for all. "Norfolk lands will be expropriated and returned to the Mohawks of Kanesatake. What they're trying to do is add more money to the pot at our expense." [source] Ducharme responded by saying, "I've got the rights to these lands, I've got the title deeds for these lands, these lands are legally ours." [source]Quebec Provincial Police officers were standing by throughout the tense 60 minutes or so of the confrontation in the case of an escalation of violence between the developer and Mohawks. "We are watching the situation," Sgt. Gregory Gomez del Prado said, adding that police would intervene only if necessary. "For now this is a civil disagreement." The standoff ended (for now) with provincial police escorting the developer from the disputed land. [source]
20 years ago the original “Oka Crisis” helped me find my path as an activist, anthropologist and ultimately as a person. I have nothing but respect for the Kanesatake people and feel that their struggle is our struggle - we are a species struggling to live in a more enlightened and humane world. Too bad we don’t already live in such a world.
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