On July 11, we gathered in solidarity in Montreal to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the siege of Kanesatake – often referred to as the “Oka crisis.”
Although this conflict is long over, the issue at heart – land expropriation – is still ever-present.
To help you understand the long-term consequences of this 78-day standoff, we’ve compiled a list of resources highlighting Indigenous perspectives:
- “Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance” (1993), a documentary* directed by Abenaki filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin.
- “Beans” (2020), a film directed by Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) filmmaker Tracey Deer.
- “The Oka Legacy” (2015), a documentary directed by Sonia Bonspille-Boileau, a Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk)-Quebecoise filmmaker.
- “When the Pine Needles Fall: Acts of Indigenous Resistance,” a book by Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, former spokesperson for the community of Kanesatake.
- “Oka Crisis: The legacy of the warrior flag,” an interactive article by Ka’nhehsí:io (Jessica) Deer, Kanien’keha journalist.
- “At the Woods’ Edge: An Anthology of the History of the People of Kanehsata:ke,” a book* by Brenda Katlatont Gabriel-Doxtater and Arlette Kawanatatie Van Den Hende. (* Please note: the book is available in English and French by order through the Mohawk Language Custodian Association)
