Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993) - full transcript
This film documents the 1990 crisis when Native Americans of the Mohawk Nation blocked access to reserve land which was being appropriated against their will by the White community of Oka, Quebec, Canada. What this film shows is the initial incident and the resulting siege from the Mohawks point of view as an illustration how this is simply a result of resistance to 270 years of European racism pushing them around and leading up to this confrontation.
[ Native drums ]
[ Narrator ]: The story you will
see takes place near Montreal,
in kanehsatake, a mohawk
village near the town of oka,
and in kahnawake, a mohawk
reserve south of the city,
at the mercier bridge.
70 km west of Montreal,
the municipality of oka
has approved a luxury
housing development
and the expansion of
a private 9-hole golf course
to 18 holes into the pines,
which is part of
the mohawk nation's land.
In the early morning
of march 10, 1990,
the people of kanehsatake
began a protest
on a dirt road leading
to the golf course.
They were given until Monday,
July 9 by the mayor of oka
to obey a court injunction
granted to his municipality
before calling
for police action.
[ Reporter ]: Are you ready
now to abandon the project?
[ Ouellette ]: No...
Is that clear?
[ Narrator ]: In the early
1930s some people in oka
began playing golf
on the commons.
The mohawks complained
that their cattle
were being chased
away with golf sticks,
and that there was nothing
for the animals to eat.
In 1947, the municipality
expropriated the commons.
Even the mohawks' burial ground
became the property of oka.
By 1961, after
many trees were cut,
the private golf
course was completed.
[ Mohawk chant ]
[ Mohawk chant ]
I came up here and I says,
"so, where's the road block?"
They said, "it's right here."
I said, "this is the road
we're blocking?
This is the road you've been
blocking for three months?"
It's a dirt road.
I thought it was maybe
a highway, you know... geez.
[ Ellen Gabriel ]: John cree,
our spiritual leader,
had just started
burning tobacco.
And he was giving thanks...
And about 5:15-- that's
when the tilden trucks
rolled in and the SWAT
team came out.
There was three of US that
just looked at each other.
And one of the woman said,
"holy shit, they're here!"
Our instincts kicked in
and we said the women
have to the go to the front,
because it's our
obligation to do that,
to protect the land,
to protect our mother.
And I can remember looking
at the faces of the SWAT team.
And they were all scared.
They were like...
They were like young babies
who had never met
something so strong,
who had never met a spirit.
Because we were fighting
something without a spirit.
There was no thought to it;
They were like robots.
Now when they kept advancing,
we asked for a chain saw.
We notched the first notch
and we started
the second notch here.
The wind picked up and made
the upper part of the tree
sound like it was falling--
a cracking sound like
the tree's comin' down.
They started, and
they started screaming
and takin' off.
And they started trippin'
and everything else,
running back to the road,
but as they were running,
they tear-gassed US,
and percussion-bombed US.
For sure, we weren't moving, no!
They can try whatever
they want to get US out,
but we weren't leaving.
[ Narrator ]: The pines
are still when the police
throw tear gas at
the people standing there.
Suddenly, the wind comes
and the smoke turns
towards the police
and onto highway 344.
In support of
the kanehsatake people,
the warriors of kahnawake
block all highways
leading into their reserve.
By 7 A.M.,
they close the mercier
bridge, which handles
over 65,000 vehicles a day.
Get down, everybody get down!
So they start running.
I says, "hit the ground,
you've gotta lay down,"
cause there's shots, huh.
I didn't know where
they were firing.
But once that first shot,
that first bullet...
Then our men start
shootin' back.
[ Mixed voices ]
[ Shots ]
[ Narrator ]: The people
in the pines are very sad
when they hear that corporal
lemay has been shot and died.
And they know that
they will be blamed,
no matter where
the bullet came from.
After lemay was hit,
they came in
with an ambulance,
removed corporal lemay
and they all retreated
immediately.
I believe when
the firing started
was when they started
jumping them shrubs.
Any hitting of a tree,
any hitting of a shrub
or falling would fire it.
It could have been
by accident-- on their part.
Whoever had the car keys
must have took off.
And he left the men,
their own men.
They couldn't run away.
I mean, they
couldn't drive away.
They couldn't drive away
'cause it was all locked.
[ Narrator ]: The warriors
react immediately.
They use a front-end loader
abandoned by
the surete du Quebec
to make several barricades,
this time on the main
highway, the 344.
♪ Guitar music
the first stand
is made in the pines
by the longhouse people.
The mohawks now
present a united front,
in spite of tensions
among different factions
in kanehsatake.
Warriors from other
communities come to support
their brothers
and sisters in the pines.
I think we all
conducted ourselves
in a very honourable way,
'cause we didtry
to avoid violence.
And we knew what
they came there for.
And we knew that,
as it progressed,
something really bad
could happen.
We just felt it.
It was something that you could
taste, almost, in the air.
[ Narrator ]: A very
tense atmosphere prevails.
More than 1,000
police officers
arrive in oka,
a village of 1,800 people.
Heavily armed police
set up roadblocks
about 5 km outside the village.
I already had enough
trouble this morning.
As soon as they found out
I was a mohawk, they told me,
"no mohawks today-- out!"
Qu'est-ce tu veux
que je fasse, crisse?!
Oui, mais mets-toi
a ma place, sacrament!
Osti! Y veut que j'aille
mener ca tout seul, tabarnac!
[ Narrator ]: All non-residents
and all first nation residents
of oka are turned back.
The way they treat the media
reminds me in some ways
more of a police state
than a democracy.
On veut l'armee!
[ Narrator ]: Residents of
chateauguay are furious
because the mercier bridge
is still blocked.
The crowd vents its anger
on the effigy of
a mohawk warrior,
yelling "savages!"
[ Crowd cheering ]
[ Rooster calling ]
Seven mayors from surrounding
municipalities express support
for mayor ouellette's decision
to call in the surete du Quebec.
[ Narrator ]: Mr. John caccia,
minister of Indian affairs
for the Quebec government,
comes to kanehsatake
for the fourth time
in an attempt to negotiate
with the mohawk people.
In his letter of July 9
to mayor ouellette, he wrote,
"this people has seen
its land disappear
"without any consultation
or compensation,
"which I consider
unfair and unjust,
"and all for a golf course.
"Once again, I request
that you postpone
the golf course
project indefinitely."
We have an agreement to re-open
mercier bridge shortly,
subject to the working out
of some practical details.
I also believe that we have
the beginnings of a proposal
which would settle
the entire situation
with the people
of the mohawk nation.
The people in kahnawake
did that in support of US.
And as long as our
demands aren't being met,
the bridge will remain closed.
I mean,
we're talking about
human lives,
we're talking about our rights.
This is our territory,
and the government has
to acknowledge that.
[ Narrator ]: Many residents
of oka and kanehsatake
have left,
fearing another attack.
After eight days in hiding,
mayor ouellette
reappears in oka.
I'm angry at the major because
he started the whole mess.
They know very well
what they're fighting for,
and it's probably worth much
than just nine holes
in the ground.
[ Narrator ]: A peace camp
is established in oka.
On this first weekend,
more than 2,500 people
come from across
the continent
to show their support
for the mohawk nation.
[ Chief bill traverse ]:
For over 100 years,
they have tried
to look after US,
but they have
failed miserably.
It is US who can determine
what is best for US.
We will determine
our own future.
The greatest threat to unity
and democracy in this country
is not the aboriginal
people, nor the Quebec,
but rather the lack
of leadership
of the government of Canada.
[ Applause and cheering ]
We should wake up and learn
that history can
teach you many things,
but you've got to listen.
This is an opportunity
for Canada
to express whether it can live
up to its almighty mandate
for human rights
that it's so well known
for throughout the world.
Why is it that we live in
a country where the police
never come to the aid
of the aboriginal people?
And yet we see them across
this country being utilized
by provincial governments
to suppress the rights
of the aboriginal people
of this country.
[ Chanting ]
The purpose of today's
statements by myself,
in the presence
of father sauvageau,
in the presence of my
colleague, Mr. Sam elkas,
and Claude Ryan,
is to clarify once and for
all-- and I will repeat--
there is free circulation
of food on both sides.
[ Narrator ]: To bring
food and medication
into the community
is a constant problem.
Volunteers with
donations from Montreal
always had to argue their
way past police roadblocks.
People think
the red cross is helping,
and they're not helping.
So far, they've come
in with only food
to feed a 110 people.
They told US on Friday
when we started this operation
that they would bring
our food in for US.
Then they told US no,
they weren't coming in
because we might be bringing
in guns and ammunition.
[ Naat an sq road block,
where every item is checked.
They wait for seven hours,
and then they're turned back.
There will be no restrictions in
terms of the delivery of food.
It has never been the policy
of this government to do that,
and we want to clarify
this once and for all.
[ Narrator ]: The truck load
is taken to this farm
where Mr. Martin agrees
to store the food.
[ Gordie oak ]: All of
a sudden the government
has decided to get
involved in all of this.
Where have they been
for the last 14, 15 days?
We've been out
of food for a while.
This is maybe the third
official truck load
that has come through.
We've got very little
to give to many.
[ Narrator ]: In the federal
school at kanehsatake
a food bank is established
for those who are afraid
to leave the community.
The people are determined
to protect the pines.
Judge Allan gold
is appointed as mediator
by prime minister mulroney.
It is also announced that
the army will replace the sq.
The warriors reinforce
their barricades.
I'm willing to be here
right until the end.
If something does go down
where we get shot up,
fine, you know.
But as far as being afraid,
I mean, I think fear
is a very big part of
what keeps people alive.
And hopefully I'll
come out of this alive.
Warriors, go home!
Warriors, go home!
[ Narrator ]: A group of
oka residents demonstrates
against the mohawks,
while in chateauguay
people march in support.
[ Crowd ]: Solidarite! Quebec!
[ Narrator ]: Across the
country, aboriginal people
blockade roads
and railway tracks
in solidarity
with kanehsatake.
After four days
of intense negotiations,
judge Allan gold succeeds
in bringing everyone together.
There is a feeling
of hope and reverence
as John cree leads mohawk
negotiators and representatives
of both governments across
the original barricade.
[ Joe deom ]: These
barricades will come down
upon mutual agreement
of the terms of disengagement.
These barricades are just
a physical manifestation
of the barricades that have
existed between our nations
since contact occurred
in the western hemisphere
almost five hundred years ago.
[ Narrator ]:
The three preconditions
to negotiations being signed
are: One...
The international federation
of human rights will choose
24 representatives
to observe the negotiations;
two-- spiritual leaders, clan
mothers, advisers and attorneys
will be free to come and go;
three-- kanehsatake
and kahnawake will have
unimpeded access to the basic
necessities of life.
I am proud to say that...
I am a mohawk...
Within the mohawk nation...
Of the six nations
iroquois confederacy.
When we started this blockade,
something had to come out
of it that would progress
our cause...
And unite our people.
This agreement is
something that our nation
has been searching for
for many years--
recognition of who
we are as a people.
Not just as mohawk people,
but as the first people
of this continent.
The struggle is not over.
As we say in mohawk,
skennen,
which means peace.
[ Tom siddon ]: I think there's
something especially significant
in being here
in this pine forest
this afternoon
to witness a step which
we hope will ensure,
as Ellen Gabriel put it,
that there will never ever again
be another July 11th.
This is a place of tranquillity
and great historical
and spiritual significance
for the people of the mohawk
nation, and we respect that.
We must live side by side
with the native people,
with the mohawk nation.
And I'm very hopeful that
we will be able to arrive
at a peaceful
negotiated settlement
in the mutual respect of all
the peoples that are involved.
[ Frank natawe ]: As far back
as I can remember, there
has always been a struggle.
I hope that the creator
will give you the integrity
to fulfil these things.
My great-grandfather,
my grandfather, my father
have been fighting over this
and I never thought
I'm going to see it myself,
to come up like this.
[ Narrator ]: On the same day,
protesters occupy
the Saint-Louis-de-gonzague
bridge
west of chateauguay.
They demonstrate against
the continuing blockade
of the mercier bridge.
In chateauguay,
the rioting escalates.
Anti-mohawk protesters
take over a semi-trailer
delivering vegetables.
It is estimated
that on one night,
more than 7,000 people
took part in the rioting.
Three days after the signing,
the army makes its move.
2,600 troops of the royal
22nd regiment are deployed
in positions near
oka and kahnawake
and await further orders.
I myself am
a traditional native.
[ Soldier ]: Chargez! Chargez!
And I follow our constitution
which was given to US
by the creator.
And in there it states
that roti'skenrakehte,
in our language,
roti'skenrakehte,
as close as I can bring that
to mean in English would be
"the men."
It's our responsibility to
protect the people within.
There is a place
in our constitution,
and when our services are
needed, our help is needed,
we have to go.
[ Narrator ]: Despite
the presence of the army,
talks begin between
mohawk negotiators
and provincial
and federal representatives
at the trappist
monastery in oka.
The mohawk people have
always had good relations
with the trappists, and
this place is considered to be
a neutral zone.
Back in kanehsatake
behind the barricades,
the warriors get ready
as the army takes over
the town.
At the bottom of the hill,
general Roy meets
with three warriors
flown in from kahnawake,
two warriors from kanehsatake,
and three from akwesasne.
They are given an ultimatum:
They have three days
to open the mercier bridge
before the army moves in.
After the meeting,
the three warriors
are flown back to kahnawake
by army helicopter.
They asked me to move out
and go to a hotel somewhere,
just in case something happens.
What's the use to run away?
If god's willing to die here,
I'll die here.
[ Narrator ]: The irony is
that the army helicopters
are landing behind
the sulpicians' church
where the trouble all
began 270 years ago.
For thousands of years, all
this land was aboriginal land.
Long before the white man came,
the kanienkehaka,
people of the flint,
known as mohawks,
had governed themselves
within a confederacy
of five nations they called
haudenosaunee.
The mohawks were the keepers
of the eastern door
of the five
nations territory.
In 1535, on his second voyage
to Canada, cartier reached
the main iroquoian village,
hochelaga, now Montreal.
At the foot of the mountain,
he saw about 50 longhouses
in the middle of corn fields.
In 1663, the gentlemen of the
seminary of St. sulpice in Paris
were named the seigneurs
of the island of Montreal,
and so began the dispossession
of the aboriginal people
of this country.
In 1676, one of their
missionaries began visiting
the mohawk village located where
downtown Montreal is today.
The mohawks were displaced
from their homeland
and moved several times
by the sulpicians.
Finally, they were told to move
to a settlement on
their hunting grounds
at the mouth
of the Ottawa river,
or lake of two mountains.
The settlement was
called kanehsatake.
In 1716, in the name of
the king of France, Louis xv,
who was then six years old,
a written promise
was made to the mohawk nation
of land nine miles square
on condition that,
should the mohawks leave,
this land would
revert to the king.
The king also
accorded the sulpicians
one and half miles by nine
miles next to the mohawks' land.
But the sulpicians were not
happy with this decision;
they wanted all the land
because it was
a well-established
meeting place for trading.
A year later,
they succeeded with the help
of the governor
of Montreal and the intendant
to have the entire tract
of land granted to themselves.
They did not inform
the mohawks of this action.
The deed was sent
to France for approval.
It was pointed out
that this move would help
in the conversion
of these savages,
and that in time of war
they would offer protection
against incursions
by other iroquois.
And so, the sulpicians
became the seigneurs
of lake of two mountains
on land that had been
the hunting grounds
of the mohawks
from time immemorial.
Not knowing of this treachery,
the mohawks remained faithful
to the catholic church
and the king of France,
and fought on the side of
the French against the English.
By 1721, the last mohawk
families were persuaded
to leave the island of Montreal
and move to kanehsatake.
Understanding that they
would not be asked to move
or be molested again,
they made a wampum belt
as a record of their rights
to the land.
Just to the west,
the algonquins
and the nipissing people
had hunting grounds
on both banks of
the Ottawa river,
and they were also
on lake of two mountains.
By 1760,
the British had taken
control of new France.
A notice was
sent to kanehsatake
that unless they
pledged allegiance
to the king of england, their
village would be destroyed.
The chiefs met in full council
with sir William Johnson.
They were told that
title to their lands
and freedom of religion were
guaranteed in the king's name.
All those who did not wish to be
subjects of the British crown
had 18 months
to sell their land.
The sulpicians were in trouble.
They couldn't sell the land
because the mohawks
were still living there.
So, four months
before the deadline,
the head of
the seminary in Paris
transferred title to the land
to the seminary in Montreal.
The superior of the order
then swore allegiance
to king George III.
On February 8, 1787,
after years of being
told by the sulpicians
that they did not own
any land, not even a shrub,
the mohawks used the wampum
belt to convey concern
to superintendent general
of Indian affairs,
sir John Johnson.
Said chief augnitha:
"You see this white line, which
shows the length of our land?
"The figures holding hands
who rejoin the cross
"represent the loyalty which we
owe to the faith that we hold.
"The body represents
the council fire of our village.
"The two dogs on the outside
"are supposed to guard
the boundaries of our land,
"and if anyone attempted
to interrupt our possession,
it is their duty
to warn US by barking."
[ Narrator ]: For the iroquois,
the wampum belt
was a record of laws governing
a five nation confederacy
ruled by a council
of fifty chiefs.
This system of government
would influence
the future establishment
of a Democratic charter
in North America.
As the years went by,
every chief took up the struggle
to have their rights
to the land recognized.
Notable among these
was Joseph onasakenrat,
a young mohawk.
The sulpicians noticed in
Joseph a man of more than
ordinary intelligence and
influence with his tribe.
They immediately began
to patronize him.
They sent him to
the college de Montreal
in order to prepare
him for the priesthood.
In 1868,
at the age of 23,
Joseph was made
head chief of kanehsatake.
There was a nobility in
his character that scorned
anything that was false.
For the first time,
the mohawks had a chief
who could read and write
the white man's way.
As secretary to the sulpicians,
he soon discovered the extent
of their false dealings
with his nation.
Chief Joseph, accompanied by
algonquin and nipissing chiefs,
and a group of his people,
marched to
the sulpicians' house.
He confronted the fathers:
"We have come
to inform you
"that you have not
dealt justly with US
"and that we want you
to leave our land,
"as we do not want to be
robbed of our heritage.
"This land was given
to you in trust
"for the tribe
to whom it belongs.
"And how have you
betrayed that trust?
"By selling the timber
and filling your treasury
"with the proceeds
of stolen property.
"This land is ours,
"ours as a heritage given
to US as a sacred legacy.
"It is a place
where our fathers lie
"beneath those trees.
"Our mothers sang our lullaby.
"And you would tear it from US
and leave US wanderers
at the mercy of fate."
[ Narrator ]: The brother
of the bishop of Montreal
came to oka and
threatened the chiefs
that he would shut them up in
Kingston penitentiary for life
if they did not
obey the priests.
He also informed chief Joseph
that the government had bought
land for them in Ontario.
Chief Joseph replied:
"We will never go there;
"we will die on
the soil of our fathers.
"And our bleaching skeletons
shall be a witness
to nations yet unborn
of Rome's injustice and greed."
[ Narrator ]: In response,
the priests asked
Quebec to send police,
who imprisoned chief Joseph
and many of the people
of kanehsatake.
In July 1990, this
sad legacy continues.
On st-germain road,
the bus carrying mohawk
negotiators
is intercepted by armed
personnel carriers.
The army informs them
that death threats
have been received.
The negotiators do
not believe them;
their suspicions
are confirmed
when they see
the army advancing.
[ First nation drums ]
That's too bad...
It's such a beautiful
day, you know...
You wonder where
the honour has gone, huh?
Does your Canadian
politicians have any?
Move it!
[ Woman ]: I'm asking
you a question.
Where are you going
from here, then?
To our houses
and kill US?
[ Soldier ]: Not trying
to kill anybody, ma'am.
[ Woman ]: This is how you
call peaceful negotiations?
- Ok, continuez a avancer.
Continuez a avancer.
I asked you gentle, ok?
- Yeah, and I asked
you gentle too...
Go on the other side.
Les armes a bretelle!
Let's go!
[ Narrator ]: Major Alain
tremblay is in charge
of this manoeuvre.
Why aren't our
liaisons contacted
about every move
that's being made,
because that was one
of the agreements.
This is seen as
an offensive action.
There are tanks
up there on those hills.
That's our land that they're
encroaching upon right now
with their tanks.
And we want them out of here.
Wait.
... something happens
while we're out there.
This is an intimidating factor.
That's what they're
trying to do.
They're on safety
on both sides,
please understand
this, ok?
You got that confirmed?
This move that you're making
will be the last one.
Because from here on in,
I guess we're going
to be burying each other,
because we won't move--
no, no more.
But my mandate, as a soldier,
as a military people,
called here by our government,
is to make sure that we take
a position on the ground
so we can ensure
the security and the safety
of everybody around here.
So we know we can do that
safely without
using our weapons.
No Canadian military soldier
will fire one shot...
First.
[ Narrator ]: A group of
spiritual leaders from Mexico
have come to support
the mohawks.
[ Drum, chanting ]
[ Walkie-talkies ]
[ Drum, chanting ]
When have these
religious leaders
told these people the truth--
as they were stealing land,
killing people,
breaking agreements,
their religious leaders
with them every sunday,
baptising them,
communion, confirmation,
all their sacraments.
[ Narrator ]: At
the trappist monastery,
negotiations are in
danger of breaking down.
[ Reporter ]: Are you ready
to go back to the table
even if the army doesn't
pull back from that checkpoint?
- We're gonna go back to
the table and we're gonna do
what we have to do
to come to a peaceful resolve.
We're not going to be the ones
that's going to walk
away from the table,
or the ones that's going
to pull the trigger.
It seems that the government
wants these talks to fail
so that they can have
a legitimate excuse
to put the army on
the Indian people and kill US.
There's every indication
that they feel that somehow
they've been misled
and that we have known all
along about these manoeuvres.
I can say to you
that we didn't.
[ Gabriel ]: The negotiators
representing the Canadian
and Quebec government
have pleaded innocent,
but then when questioned
later, they said that
"well, we knew that something
was going on this morning,
but we weren't too sure what."
Somebody had asked me, "how
far are you willing to go?"
I said "six feet under."
And I think that's
what's gonna happen.
You're gonna see
a death feast.
You're not gonna
see land claims.
And... they're provin' it.
That's what they want, huh?
Shut up the Indian.
Keep the Indian nation
down where they had them
for so many years.
If I go to jail,
I'm gonna walk through
those doors in honour.
I'm not going in as a junkie.
Nothin' to be ashamed of.
And when I come out,
I'll teach my children
and my grandchildren to fight.
No more compassion.
I've had it.
I was raised as a pacifist.
I was raised that if you don't
want to have prejudice on you,
don't put it out.
And we went through a lot,
but this has changed me.
I've never been violent.
I've never thought
to hit out, to strike out.
But now don't look at me
sideways because I know
I'll never bow down to them,
because they just
step on your hands.
If this is civilized,
I'd rather stay on
this side of the barricade.
Are you going to let US
look in the truck
to see if there's
food in there?
- I have to wait for my boss.
- Let them transmit the food.
- On fait rien que regarder
a l'interieur...
Beds, and things like that.
Can I get up there?
- Oh yes.
That's eight boxes
full of food, there.
Check if you want.
- Satisfied?
- Yep.
- Ok, now, just to make
sure that we are, ok,
on the same length of wave.
There's three meals a day
that has to be served, ok,
and we've got, ok, to give
the meals to our men.
- I understand.
- Now, you agree with me
today, right now,
here in front of
all those cameras,
that you will
not object any more.
- No, as long as
they could have a peek...
- Can I have your name, please?
I don't want your real name,
just give me a name
that you use.
- 361.
- 361?
Ok, so we have agreed with 361
that from now on, ok,
every day at every mealtime,
there will a truck,
two and half ton like that,
that will be passing through
to go to our people
on top of the hill.
- Ok, not a problem.
- Is that ok?
- As long as it's
a truck of food,
not the apcs like this morning.
- But don't everybody
stay tense.
We need one man and one man,
whatever.
They got a man over there,
we're short a man over there.
We got a man there... fine.
But nobody else be tense.
Get your rest period.
It's like an obstacle
course that they've set up.
It's harder to go through.
The day before yesterday,
it wasn't that bad
with the army.
But now it is...
This is really bad.
[ Narrator ]: After seven
days of negotiations,
the talks are broken off.
The negotiators on
the government's side
have reached the limit
of their mandates
and are ill-equipped
to carry on the discussions
at this time.
And we are equally at an
impasse on the proposition
made by the provincial
government
in relation to
the depositing of arms,
which they categorically
do not wish to do.
And they did not come back
with a counter-proposal
of how to deal with that issue.
[ Narrator ]: The mohawks call
their own press conference
for seven o'clock that
evening behind the barricade.
13 out of 15 issues
had been agreed upon.
There remained the question
of sovereignty and potential
arrest for the warriors
after a disengagement.
A feeling of discouragement
had to be overcome.
Amnesty implies that
we did something wrong and
we are to be forgiven for it.
Our position is that we
were defending our nation
and our land, and we are
not to be blamed for that.
We are native people
to this land.
We're not trying
to take your land
or anybody else's property.
You ask if there's
an imminent assault here.
Yes there is.
Within a few hundred
feet from here
you'll find the armed forces.
Yes, they're ready
for an assault.
We were here to protect
our burial grounds
and the pines
from a nine-hole golf course.
You must keep that in mind.
Have you forgotten?
[ Narrator ]: Army
flares are frequent.
On st-germain road,
the army sets up a checkpoint.
Only a string of razor wire
separates the warriors
from the military.
Is it a problem
to get out?
Yeah, no problem
to get out.
Ok, no problem
to come in too?
A problem to
come in.
- What problem?
- Who's gonna feed
the animal... why?
What, what, why?
Because it's
an order.
By whom?
[ Narrator ]: Mavis etienne,
a mohawk negotiator,
is arrested by the sq
and detained for five hours.
They came to me and they said
"you're under arrest,
Mrs. Etienne."
And I said, "for what?"
And they said, "for being
behind the barricades."
And for intimidation and
all kinds of stuff like that,
not obeying the injunction.
They'd have to arrest
siddon and they'd have
to arrest judge gold,
they'd have to arrest ciaccia,
because they've all been
on the other side
of the barricade.
Just when I told them i'm
entitled to a phone call
to my lawyer,
the officer sitting in
the passenger seat laughed,
turned around and he
punched me in the face.
"Which gun did you have
when you killed lemay?"
I'm there, "what do you mean,
I didn't kill nobody."
Then just because I said that,
another slap,
or a kick in the testicles.
They put the cuffs on my back,
they asked me to stand up.
And one of the officers
asked me if I smoked.
I was more than happy
to have a cigarette.
He lights himself
a cigarette,
blows his smoke in my face.
Just when his cigarette is just
about out, about an inch long,
he puts it onto my belly.
He actually put his
cigarette out on my stomach,
and then he pulls on my pants
and puts it down my pants.
And they call US
savages, I mean...
And finally I had
enough.
Two or three hours of getting
beaten on, I signed it.
An empty
sheet.
Yeah.
The toughest challenge for any
government in the western world
and our world,
is to defend democracy
against people who do
not believe in democracy.
[ T.v. ]: Mulroney praised
bourassa's government
for the way it's been handling
the situation in oka.
We are not going
to accede to requests
from a group of warriors,
some of whom are not
even Canadian citizens,
and whose actions have been,
to understate the case,
illegal for some
considerable period of time.
[ T.v. ]: Our troops
will confront warriors
that have a sizeable
and effective arsenal.
Media coverage of
the warriors has shown
that they have a large
number of modern weapons.
[ T.v. Anchor ]: Now
Tony Ross in kanehsatake,
there was some question about
how-- what kind of armaments
the warriors had in there.
The army suggested
maybe a mortar,
maybe some really
tough machine guns.
What have the mohawks
said about that?
[ Ross ]: The mohawks won't
confirm or deny what they have.
I mean, I can tell you the
people standing around me here,
I guess I can see
some kind of rifles.
I've seen something that looks
like semi-automatic weapons.
I'm not a weapons expert,
but mostly rifles
and shotguns around here now.
But nobody will
confirm or deny
some of the heavy armaments
the army's talking about.
The mohawks here are saying
maybe the army's saying
they've got all this equipment
to justify some sort
of show of greater force.
Maybe this is the decade
that roadblocks
are going to be
throughout Canada.
Because people are fed up.
And the only thing that
the governments understand
is right here.
Fish is dyin', the air's
dyin', the plants are dyin',
the animals are dyin'.
We're not too far behind
them as the mohawk nation.
[ Narrator ]: A mob
attacks a convoy
of 75 cars with old people,
children and women
from kahnawake
as they leave the reserve,
fearing an army assault.
One passenger, an elderly man,
later suffered a heart
attack and died.
This is what they
threw at my father.
This is what hit
him in the chest.
[ Narrator ]: Her 77-year-old
father was badly injured.
- I'm going to remember
those faces.
[ Narrator ]:
A number of houses
in the area are vandalized
by various people.
In one case,
two warriors are suspected.
Needless to say, the community
feels this is very bad.
An agreement to open
the mercier bridge is
reached between the army
and the warriors of kahnawake.
The barricades are dismantled.
The people of kanehsatake
are shocked
when they hear the news.
They feel abandoned.
[ Gabriel ]: They have
tanks now at our heads.
Army helicopters going
by have machine guns.
We have a thousand sq
officers waiting to come in.
But we will not surrender.
We've done nothing wrong.
We're not criminals.
They try to intimidate US
and break our spirit,
create division
amongst our people.
Once that bridge was opened,
it's fairly evident they
could do what they like now.
And they're doing it.
This is what they call
peaceful resolution.
You want me to help you?
Oh, I can't... I gotta go.
[ Narrator ]: The warriors
move out of their bunkers
as the army invades the pines.
[ Woman ]: Get back!
Back over there!
Get back! Now!
Get back!
Back!
[ Narrator ]: Meanwhile,
on the 344, bolt pin,
an unarmed warrior in a golf
cart, defies the army,
while mad jap hears
from sector five.
Leave your piece
behind, please.
I'm unarmed.
You don't have
to be armed.
Want me to hold it?
Ha-ha-ha!
[ Woman ]: Get your
fuckin' gun down!
Stay there, or I'll
fuckin' kick your ass!
[ Man ]: Come on,
come on, come on!
Like I told you, my mission
is to open the road.
So everything which is
blocking the road here,
I have orders to push it with
the dozer you saw behind me.
So that's basically the sand
pile you have over here,
and the three police cars--
former police cars.
Come on! Shoot! Shoot!
You fucker!
- Get back!
See, we have complications
in the far sector
off of the golf
course right now.
Your troops are advancing very
heavily over there right now.
Advancing on them, and they
don't want to delay a bit.
As we mentioned, we are
waitin' for a call,
and them troops
are still advancin'.
Could you hold them troops?
And stop them?
I'll check that
with my boss.
[ Man ]: Let's go! Come on!
[ Woman ]: Get back!
I'll go over there and talk
to that company commander
as evidently you have a field
phone to contact him,
and I will go over
there personally.
[ Mad jap ]: Because
the negotiation talks
are still on as of yet.
Just hold your
position right now.
They're gonna hold theirs.
When it gets dark
they want to come out just
basically to the clearing here
and they will not advance
any further than that.
These are not weak men,
these are strong suckers.
[ Narrator ]:
The warriors withdraw
to the treatment centre
to make their last stand.
Michael, we've got
something here...
[ Soldier ]: All journalists
are requested to leave the area
through the gate over there.
Please move now.
[ Journalist ]: The army
has the media separated.
Some of US are on one side
of their newest barricade,
and 50 feet away, I see my
fellow reporter, Tony Ross,
on his side of the barricade.
And what I think
they're doing--
and I'm only guessing
at this point-- is...
[ Helicopter ]
What remains is what
they are going to do
with the warriors who are
in the treatment centre.
Why don't we just do it direct?
I mean, is this a rehearsal?
[ Narrator ]: At 5:30 P.M.,
soldiers check the barricade
for booby traps.
Nothing is found.
As the barricades come down,
orders are given
to watch out
for runaway warriors.
Three traditional leaders
arrive to join the people
in the treatment centre.
[ Reporter ]: Is there any way
for a negotiated
settlement now, or...?
- I believe there is;
There always has been.
Bon, on arrete la, on arrete la.
On arrete la. He! He!
[ Narrator ]: The warriors
prepare for another advance
by the army,
while some people
of the village
take shelter in
the federal school.
The army officers came
over and told US that...
Asked US how many people
were in the shelter,
and we told 'em about 100.
And they said that all
the men, women and children
had to go out on
the road and line up
and get their
identification ready
because they were going
to check them all.
And they said after they checked
everybody's identification,
the women and children
only could go home.
So we've asked for all
human rights organizations
to come and at least have
cars ready at the barricades.
So when people are
arrested and taken,
that somebody will follow
them so they'll know
where they're taking them to.
I'm sorry...
[ Man ]: Linda... Linda.
[ Narrator ]: That night,
some of the journalists
sleep out on highway 344
in front of
the treatment centre.
The next morning,
the army surrounds the warriors'
encampment with razor wire
and takes position in the pines.
The warriors put up
a large curtain to block
the view of the soldiers.
This manoeuvre proved to be
very annoying to the army.
[ Shots ]
Tension is at
the breaking point.
By nightfall,
the army harasses the warriors
with searchlights.
Shadows on a wall.
Is this the end?
[ Major tremblay ]: Listen,
listen, I'm talking now.
Some of your guys
throw something at US.
Rocks, woods.
Some of your guys use
their four-by-four
to tear the barbed wire.
Listen, calm your guys
because I'm not going
to fuck around here.
Understood?
Understood, that's all.
If you have any problem,
go at the hotline.
I have a military job
to do here-- I'm going to do it.
[ Mad jap ]: Back
your men up then.
- My men will back up as soon
as your men are backing up.
- They're backed up already.
- Oh yeah? Prove it to me.
- ... hit the trench with rocks.
... on this side here
with big bayonets.
And they said that rocks and
wood was thrown back at them.
They took their bayonets,
trying to cut this screen down
because they can't see.
It's the only reason.
The only reason that
they are doing this
is because they cannot see.
Get that light off me a minute.
Get that fuckin' light off me!
[ Mad jap ]: The men
are backin' off.
[ Major tremblay ]:
The men are backing off?
- They're backin' off,
yes, right now.
- I cannot see it.
- Well, that's the thing,
we cannot see you either.
You come forward right
here, then you'll see.
- Oh yeah, I'm not gonna
go on the other side.
- No, no-- nobody's
gonna do you no harm.
I go over there,
I'm not scared.
You don't have a cause.
You should be real proud.
They're gonna have your
pictures on the papers,
as cowards.
When you write home to mommy,
you better tell 'em
you're in Germany.
You don't want to tell
'em you're here.
She's liable to kick
your ass when you get home.
[ Soldier ]: Fuck off!
[ Narrator ]:
The army uses a crane
to see over the curtain.
Major Marquis hainse.
M-a-r-q-u-e-s...
H-a-i-n-s-e.
H-a-i-n...
S-e.
Hainz... heinz?
H-a-i-n-s-e.
[ Major ]: H-a-i-n-s-e...
[ Reporter ]: Haines, ok.
[ Male reporter ]: No,
s-e... not e-s... s-e.
[ Major ]: H-a-i-n-s-e,
exactly.
- Ok.
Whenever a flare would
go off, it was, uh...
At first everybody would
kind of run to that area
and see.
And when that would happen
it would leave
other areas unguarded.
[ Male ]: You didn't
talk to anybody.
[ Mad jap ]: I was puttin'
it out, ordered it,
until they come, the cameramen,
down, then you move...
There was always
that kind of thought
at the back of your head--
well, what...
Maybe it's a diversionary
tactic or something.
Have to go and investigate,
make sure it didn't
burn the pines.
Come on, let's go,
get out of here.
Hey, hey...
Come on.
[ David ]: We lodged a few
complaints that these flares
are only heightening
the chances of people shooting,
because it produced a lot
of fear, a lot of agitation.
Mom, what's
that thing?
Nothing.
[ Child ]: I know
it's a bomb, ma.
- Yeah, it's some kind of bomb.
- What happens if you touch it?
- Dogo...it's poison, I guess.
- What's poison?
Makes US sick.
[ Mad jap ]: We don't know
what it is, first of all.
[ Woman ]: The flare went up and
this thing landed next to me.
We were sitting here...
Bruce was laying
there, relaxing.
And here, and this thing made
a big noise in the ground,
like a big thump.
[ Mother singing
to child in mohawk ]
[ Woman ]: Now, if it had killed
either one of US, I mean,
I know everyone
in there would be dead.
[ Mother singing ]
[ Reporter ]: Hey, this
is free country, buddy.
You have your orders...
- It's our constitutional right!
You keep your hands
away from the camera.
- Now, you just said they're
allowed in there because...
[ Narrator ]: In kahnawake,
the army raids the longhouse,
even though it had promised
to stay out of the reserve
once the mercier
bridge was opened.
Why not?
It's their house.
Sir, it's an
order from higher.
[ Native ]: He's welcome...
They're welcome in.
[ Soldier ]: Sir, it's
an order from higher.
No reporters, no television
crews past the cordon.
They all beat US.
We were laying
in ditches out there.
We were fighting them.
They were punching, believe me.
They pulled my daughter's
shirt right off.
He says
we're welcome.
No sir, the cordon has
been established, sir.
No photographer crews,
no media crews past the cordon.
Besides sir, I don't
ask questions,
I just take orders, sir.
Six guys jumped me,
and when I tried to stop them
from going in the longhouse,
they smashed my face
with a butt,
in the back of the head...
On my eye...
Back of my neck...
My hand, it's all cut up.
[ Narrator ]:
At the treatment centre,
when the warriors
learn of the raid,
they react immediately.
Lasagna is from kahnawake
and he is having a hard
time controlling himself.
Lorraine montour,
who was almost hit by a falling
flare the night before,
is enraged.
[ Soldier ]: Mettez-vous sur
le barbele puis bougez pas.
[ Montour ]: Get out
of here, you shithead!
You too!
[ Warrior ]: You gotta go
home and live with yourself.
You got to go home and talk
to your children too, uh?
I'm a terrorist?
You guys better go home
and re-educate yourselves.
[ Soldier ]: Restez concentres.
Come on, Canada's
using ya!
[ Woman ]: Piss on kids,
too, in kahnawake?
Looks who's the savage now.
[ Man ]: Rifle butts, unarmed
women, innocent women, children.
Is that what you do?
[ Woman ]: Makin' kids
screamin' and cryin'.
Your kids are gonna
pay for this, man,
let me tell you.
Why don't you fuckin'
try me, asshole?
Come on, come on, guys.
Let US resolve these things, ok?
[ Narrator ]: The youngest of
the mohawk warriors, adoa,
is calmed by Bob antone,
a traditional chief.
That's real
fuckin' nice, huh?
[ Mad jap ]: Hey, come on.
[ Narrator ]: Loran Thompson
takes the time to pass on
the stories and the language
to the children.
[ Speaking mohawk ]
[ Helicopter ]
[ Narrator ]: Now that
sq boats are patrolling,
the chance of bringing food
across the lake is much reduced.
[ Mad jap ]: There's
no big rush.
- No, eh?
- No, there's no...
- You're not going anywhere?
- I'm not going noplace.
[ Narrator ]: After
four hours of waiting,
every item of food
is inspected
at two different
army checkpoints.
Margaret Gabriel is allowed
in tc to deliver food
for the last time.
... Jesus Christ,
amen.
Let's walk in, Greg,
go ahead, let's walk in.
- Venez ici, venez-vous-en ici.
- In the name of Jesus,
in the name of Jesus.
- Laissez-les pas passer.
- I don't believe this.
- I absolutely...
We're ministers of the gospel.
We're concerned about people.
- Please... there's nothing
to gain and those soldiers
will not allow you in.
- There's souls to be gained,
there's people to be gained.
[ Narrator ]:
The sun is going down.
The warriors' silence
speaks of death.
Some of them have
made their wills.
Another night in tc.
It is 4 A.M..
Alone in his bunker, after days
of guard duty and no sleep,
spudwrench dozes off.
He is jumped by an army
patrol and severely beaten.
[ Dr. David gorman ]: When
I first saw spudwrench,
I had a terrific anger
welled up inside of me.
He was beaten beyond
almost all recognition.
His head was about one
and a half times the size
of an ordinary head.
One eye was fully closed.
He had lacerations
all over his head.
My initial impression
was anger.
How could they do
this to a person?
I start yellin' and
they start beatin' me
with somethin' on the head,
about 25 times.
There was three guys
holdin' me down.
[ Narrator ]: The warrior's
condition is reported
to major tremblay by
a military paramedic.
Your guy needs to be sent
to a trauma centre.
I'm going to promise you
that he's gonna be brought back
as soon as he's ok.
Ok, he's not
to be interrogated
by no one
or anything?
No, not at all.
Can I have that
in writing, please?
In writing? We cannot do
that and you know that.
You're going to have
to take my word.
His life is more important.
It is themost important
thing to me right now.
It's the same
thing for US.
Uh... evidently not.
But that's neither
here nor there on
that, right now.
[ Narrator ]: It takes
several hours of negotiations
before the army allows
Dr. Gorman inside tc
to treat spudwrench
and a civilian ambulance
to take him
to a hospital.
The first thing I found...
Everybody searched...
And I saw something
laying in the sand,
it was about this long.
It was wrapped in leather.
It was a Blackjack.
That was the thing
that they used on him,
and I held it
by my fingers.
And somebody says,
"let me see."
I said, "don't even touch it."
And he told US, he says,
"they're not foolin'."
He says, "be careful."
[ Dr. Gorman ]: Finally,
the army who didn't want him
to fall in the hands
of the sq...
And they knew if he died
in a jail, that ultimately,
they'd be responsible
for murder.
They had a big verbal fight
with the ambulance driver--
the army mps-- and their
hands were on their pistols,
and they were trying to see
that we got safe passage
to the hospital.
Though I had seen him
and I had treated him,
and I had sewn up
all his wounds,
when I saw his picture
on the front page
of the Montreal newspaper,
I wept when I saw it
a few days later.
Yes, I gave him
my word that if,
due to the seriousness
of the injuries
that was assessed at that time,
he could... that the option of
coming back could be considered.
[ Reporter ]: Major
tremblay said yesterday
before our cameras, quote,
"I'm going to promise you
that he's going to be
brought back here
as soon as he's ok."
Did the army break
that promise or not?
- No.
Major tremblay's
company, company c,
has changed places
with company a.
Company a is now down
in that direction,
company c back here.
Standard procedure.
It's just a matter that
major tremblay's troops
have been in the thick of things
for a number of days now,
and it's a matter of allowing
fresh troops to get in there,
and major tremblay's troops
to perhaps step back a bit
and relax.
♪ Music
[ Joe David ]: But just the idea
of putting razor
wire in the water.
Come on, guys, get real.
I don't think they've
really clued in to the idea
that we're not going anywhere.
It's probably a concept that
they just can't understand.
♪ Music
[ Narrator ]:
Bob antone returns
to replace Terry doxteter,
who has gone to the peace camp
where the people
are upset and angry
after hearing about spudwrench.
[ Man ]: We're all
here in solidarity.
[ Woman ]: It's a war zone!
I'd rather die than
have those people die.
[ Woman ]: They took one in,
how many more
are they gonna take?
Already they have
akwesasne surrounded,
they got oka surrounded,
what other reservations
are they gonna surround?
[ Man ]: They try to beat
up women and children
in kahnawake.
Ok, they've pushed
US far enough.
[ Terry doxteter ]: All
I'm asking is don't let
your anger guide you.
That's what those men
have been fighting for days.
If they could talk to you,
they'd tell you to wait
and plan this out properly.
[ Woman ]: I talked to
my brother and he said
he didn't think he
was comin' out alive!
That's what we gotta do, go home
and take care of their kids!
We want them out!
I've been beaten so many times
by the state police, the sq.
I know how it feels, I know
how those people feel.
I'm not afraid to die!
I'm not afraid to spend
the rest of my life in prison!
[ Woman ]: You're talkin' about
the lives of a lot of people
who've been patient
for a long time.
- Patient for a long time, yeah.
Well, they're gettin' beaten
and beaten and beaten!
Who's gonna be next?
- You're saying it's
time for them to die?
- No, I'm sayin' it's time
for US to do something.
Are we gonna let
another one beat up?
How many times have they
kept one... one promise?!
They kept one promise!
One promise they kept!
They promised to take all of
our land, and they're doing it!
[ Chanting ]
Myself and Robert
galbraith, we...
When we heard there
was no t.V. Cameras here
and that people were concerned
that a massacre might happen
because it wouldn't
be televised,
we took a small video camera--
this one--
and we put it in a box and
we crawled through the forest.
Mostly on our bellies.
We got covered with insects.
We went past the army
in broad daylight.
There's all this
psychological stuff
about how you can't
get through barbed wire.
Well, we put a tarpaulin
underneath the wire
instead of going over it,
and we crawled underneath
and came through about 7:30.
This was last sunday.
We're your eyes and they're
trying to blind US
by getting the press
out of here.
I'm not gonna leave.
I'm not gonna be blinded.
I want you to see,
I want the people to see
what's gonna happen.
I can't understand why
the politicians don't realize
this, that there's gonna be
complete anarchy throughout
Canada if anybody's hurt here.
If anybody's shot,
if a gun goes off.
That's gonna break
up the country.
That's what it's gonna do.
It's gonna break our country up.
And I love Canada,
and I love Canadians.
It's beautiful up here,
it's really nice.
[ Man ]: Ok, let me...
- People are really great.
I recommend it to anyone.
If we're not recognized
as a nation, it's brought
all Indian nations
together, this fight.
So in a way, our
battle is won.
Major tremblay had it put
there by one of his men.
I questioned him about it.
He says he had his men
put it there.
Just to intimidate me,
to make me mad.
Doesn't bother me at all.
They're soldiers of
the mohawk nation
and they've conducted
themselves well as soldiers,
and as warriors.
And they have been disciplined,
they've been real good men
out there-- to hold back
and to restrain themselves
as much as they have.
Even though they've been
fired upon in this siege,
they've maintained
a real strong integrity.
[ Narrator ]: Bruce Elijah
never seems to rest.
He helps take away the anger
from the hearts and the minds
of the warriors.
Day by day, you can see
the change in their spirit.
A lot of the guys
too have changed.
They're not really
trying to keep up
that hard exterior
anymore... I mean...
They're gentle
in their own way.
You're seeing more
than just the warrior.
You're seeing somebody
who's a human being.
It's important that we
keep our traditions alive,
and it's really important
that we hold on to our language.
This is what makes US strong,
our beliefs...
Our customs and our
prayers and...
Songs, and the drum.
This is what keeps US going.
You all set, Ryan?
- Yes, front desk please.
Sure, hang in, guys.
Yep, take care.
Free at last, free at last.
Ok, you all take care.
Watch yourself.
[ Narrator ]: Ryan remiorz,
a photographer for Canadian
press, has decided to leave.
He is escorted out of tc
to be questioned by the sq
at their temporary
headquarters
in the clubhouse
at the golf course.
[ Remiorz ]: Most of the print
journalists have cell phones
so they can file their
stories over the phone.
The t.V. And still guys,
it's gonna be more difficult,
but I think at this point,
the only reason
people are staying
is to see what
happens at the end,
to be there for the final
assault or the surrender,
or whatever ends up happening.
Hello, phyl?
Hi, how are you?
Ok, how are you?
Good, good.
I guess you've heard
the army's cut off
the telephone inside here, eh?
Yes.
So, who knows what's
gonna happen next?
So, hopefully it's not
our last call for a while.
How's the kids?
Good, good.
Yes, I can.
Hi, honey, how are you?
Did you have a fun
day at your school?
Really?
I got your paintings
and the big smiley face,
the happy face,
and it was beautiful.
And I got it hanging up
at my work right now.
Yes, I showed all
my friends at work
and they thought
it was very beautiful.
How's my other little girl?
How's little iona?
Is she being a good girl?
Did you feed the fish today?
Oh, I'm happy.
Well, daddy may be
seeing you soon, ok?
I don't know when i'm
gonna come home, honey...
Got anything for asthma?
I can't come in there...
For me to treat you...
- And if I leave,
I can't come back.
You're not gonna give me any
medicine unless I leave here
and you take me away.
Are you the commander, sir?
- Yes I am.
Can you explain to me how
we can be taken into custody
when we're not
accused of a crime?!
Can you explain it?
[ Soldier ]: The policy
is journalists
are confined to stay
over there
or to leave.
This is a confined area.
- I realize that.
Now, it's at the point right
now where the condition I have,
which is a chronic asthmatic
bronchial condition,
if it worsens,
it can be life-threatening.
If you don't believe me, call up
the royal Edward chest hospital
and ask them for my file.
My name is cash.
I'm sure you've got a file
on me that thick by now.
Call up the hospital
and ask 'em if I've
ever come close to death,
and they'll tell you.
- It's your decision, mister.
It's your decision.
- My decision is this:
If I want medical treatment,
I have to go into custody.
- No.
- Am I accused of any crime,
right now, by being here?
'Cause we don't know because
we're not allowed to speak
to lawyers either.
[ Coughing ]
Excuse me.
Could we have
the doctor's name?
Excuse me, sir.
Is it possible to have
the name of the doctor
I was speaking with?
No?
I mean, is there any
law in operation here?
- I haven't seen it.
- The hotline says
they're not authorized
to deal with journalists.
- I'm not either.
- What the fuck is goin' on?
So, we don't fuckin' exist?
[ Narrator ]: 24 hours later,
Ted cash finally receives
his medication.
A group of oka residents
protests against the peace camp.
[ Car horns ]
We come a long ways.
Clear across from Vancouver.
Before that, from
south Dakota to here.
So, we feel that we have
a right to go there
and pray with our
brothers and our sisters.
We come very much at peace
and we have a pipe with US.
This pipe was also in
negotiation at wounded knee.
We are the ones that
are blend with this earth.
Cops just came here a few
minutes ago and warned US.
If we're smuggling in
people they're gonna come
and gonna hassle
the people at the camp
and people who tries to get in.
That's not right.
They're treatin' US
like we're garbage.
- T'aveugles la madame, veux-tu
qu'Elle frappe quelqu'UN?
[ Narrator ]: More
and more people
are coming to the peace camp,
but the sq turns them back.
We're going in there
to pray with our brothers.
- I understand you,
but the order from now,
because it's an emergency zone,
so you're not allowed to go in.
We must control everything
that's going in.
You need an address inside.
[ Woman ]: There's thousands
of people coming.
What are you gonna
do with everybody?
We're all coming
to show support.
[ Policeman ]: We'll
turn them back.
Tomorrow we're supposed
to have an area
especially for you people--
a place for a camp and...
[ Man ]: You mean, to detain US?
[ Policeman ] No, no, no,
not a detention camp.
An area especially
for you to put your tent.
[ Man ]: No, no, no.
This is my country.
Don't make that mistake.
You know, you cannot be
treatin' US this way.
- We don't treat you...
I'm talking about
people who come from
out of the country here.
They don't have
a place to stay.
- You're from out of the country
if anybody's out of the country.
This is our country.
Our home and native
land, it says.
But now they're putting up
barriers for my people.
We can't go... do as we like.
We got to be careful
how we talk
or who we talk to
in this country.
Even in regards
to our spirituality.
I'm guaranteed freedom of
movement anywhere within Canada.
And they say I can't go in
there to be with my people.
Now, that's ridiculous.
This is not Russia,
this is not Nazi Germany.
This is Canada.
[ Russell means ]: You allow
your leaders of your country
to just call people names,
rather than go
and talk with them,
and you're never
gonna resolve anything.
And all you're gonna cause
is death and misery
and destruction.
Destruction of
communities like oka,
destruction of
communities like kahnawake,
and all the rest of 'em.
I mean, I just can't say
it enough how idiotic
they're acting on
the world stage.
Whoever we are...
What's wrong with
talking to one another?
If they're going
to act like children,
then they should watch
children a little longer,
because right after
they get in a fight,
five minutes later,
they're best buddies again.
[ Applause ]
[ Narrator ]: The army finally
allows journalists to approach
the front of
the treatment centre.
There are twelve fine
journalists here.
We've got a 50-fuckin'-
calibre pointed at our heads.
Welcome to South America.
- Help US, help US.
- Freedom of the press.
- It's pretty difficult
to do our jobs.
It's unacceptable.
I ask you right now, please,
to come back over there.
There are a dozen people in
there who are working hard,
trying to tell the story
to the whole world
of what's going on
from that side, ok?
The journalists are trying
to throw their film
across the barbed wire
to other journalists outside,
and the armed forces
interfering with that.
Those films are now in
the hands of the police.
Well, that's a pretty
horrible thing.
They're not allowed
to interfere
in human rights here.
But they're doing it anyway.
- How many eggs did
they throw at you?
- Let's say that they did throw
more than one egg at US.
- A dozen, two dozen, six?
- I don't really know.
- But you know they
threw eggs at you?
- They threw eggs at US.
Your people are
throwing eggs at US.
So apparently you
have too much food.
I don't understand that.
- That's not true.
- That istrue.
That vehicle over there, you see
the one with a red "a" on it?
Take the next vehicle.
Two eggs landed
right next to that vehicle
and they were thrown
from the inside
of the perimeter.
- You want to show that to me?
- You won't be able to see it
because that's on
the other side.
- You want to take
me over there?
- I can bring you
the shells of the eggs.
- That you had for breakfast.
- Well, anyway...
- You won't be able to
use the shells 'cause...
- We'll take the camera
crew over there.
- Are you here
to pick this up?
- We don't waste
no food, see?
- Well, I'm sorry,
but they did.
- Yes, I'm here to pick this up.
- This is our food list.
- The food list to me?
No, I won't send
any food list.
- Why not?
- Because I'm not
sending a food list.
I'm picking this up.
I'll bring you the shells.
- No, don't take them over.
You show US where they hit.
We'll take the camera crew so
they can see where they hit.
- No, you can't see it
because that's on
the other side of the road.
Give me the camera,
I'll tape it for you.
- No food left here.
Unless it's your own men.
Unless it's your ownmen
trying to pull some shit.
We got a new
colonel klink here.
Corporal klink.
Major klink.
Colonel klink.
[ Man ]: We also have a bunker
picked out for you guys...
[ Narrator ]: Psycho and Kathy
are engaged to be married.
[ Narrator ]:In the journalists'
bunker in oka, they watch
as the sq, protected
by the army,
raids tekakwitha island
in kahnawake.
[ Protesters yelling ]
[ Protesters yelling from t.V ]
[ Mixed voices yelling ]
- Come on, you motherfucker!
[ Mixed voices yelling ]
[ Narrator ]:
The police say
they found firearms there.
♪ Music
[ reporter ]: Tell me why
you needs guys in riot gear
and chinook helicopters
to cart away dozens
of cases of beer?
- No.
- Are you confused
and perplexed by it?
- No.
- Why are they doing it?
- The chinooks and the
helicopters were not here
for the beer, I'm sure
you know that... thank you.
[ Narrator ]: People are
leaving the peace camp
under pressure from the sq.
No sooner do their buses leave
the camp than they are stopped,
and everyone is questioned.
Ok, what's
your name?
Mabel Mae doxteter.
What is your date
of birth, please. 58?
- 1958.
- And your name?
- Pas de recours a la force
pour les enlever de la?
♪ Music
- I live here.
You block the traffic.
- You block the traffic!
I fucking live here!
- Move your car, please.
- Get off the fuckin' road!
You work for US!
You work for Canadians.
Or do you not?
- Could you move
your car please?
- I fucking live here.
- That's the last time
I tell you. Move your car.
- I live here.
- If you don't move your car,
I will do an arrestation.
- You're going to arrest
me because I live here?
Is my life in danger?
To go to my home?
Who do you work for?
Canada or somebody else?
- Embarquez dans votre
voiture, monsieur...
- I don't speak French.
- Je suis desole,
je parle pas anglais.
- I don't have
to speak French.
Ok, I'll get in my car.
I'm going home, though.
I'm going this way,
where I live.
I am allowed to go anywhere
in Canada, anytime.
I'm a citizen of this country.
I'm a property owner in oka.
I can do what I like.
I know, miss.
- I want to take
these people home.
I've not the authority
for say you to go.
I ask you wait
a moment in your car
for the security
at all people.
Yeah, but why
can't we just leave?
Wait a few minutes.
A few minutes...
How long?
I don't know,
maybe 15 minutes.
You just said
a little while ago
that as soon as
she got down here
to say that she was
takin' US to her place...
You speak too fast
for me, I'm sorry.
... we could go.
Could you speak
slowly?
No.
I don't speak
English very well.
If you speak
too fast,
I don't understand,
I'm sorry.
I have leased my
property to these people.
We checked that, madame.
If you lose your propriete,
it's not... we don't...
Applique?
- ... apply that.
- We refuse because we respect
for security for oka.
[ Woman ]: No fucking rights!
Sure, arrest a man who wants
to stand up for people!
You guys don't even answer US.
You couldn't even
answer US.
And then you go
and arrest my husband!
You stand back
and you laugh at US
like we're a bunch
of goddamn idiots!
We're standing up
for our rights!
I got a daughter
in this car,
leave me alone!
Listen, I just...
My daughter's in the car.
Please leave me alone.
Madame,
montez, madame.
That's not right.
Ok, madame,
ecoutez...
I'm not that strong, you
don't have to twist my arm.
I arrest you, ok?
And your kid... ok?
Let me go.
Ok... ok...
Let me go.
Just leave me alone!
Tu l'arretes-tu
ou tu l'arretes pas?
My child's gonna
stay with me.
- Ok, entrez, entrez...
- Ok, here, here...
- Fini, fini, fini...
Embarquez, madame, embarquez...
What about my daughter?!
Answer me, my daughter's
in the car!
No, I'm not going
to be quiet!
We asked to go there.
You lied to US.
We couldn't go there.
Now we can't stay here.
Now we can't go there.
Where can we go?!
This is Canada! Canada!
A free country!
For everyone!
Yeah, we're just tryin'
to get food and clothing in.
It's the first time
we tried with clothing
and apparently they
don't want clothing in.
The guys that are in there
are still wearing the same
clothes since July 11,
and fall is coming.
There's women,
children in there.
You know, we brought
warm clothing, like...
Socks and jogging...
Pants and jogging sweater,
things like that.
At the present time,
there are about 20 women
and 8 children there.
And certainly these women and
children are not terrorists
and they don't deserve
the treatment they are getting.
They don't allow me
to see my daughter,
they won't allow US
to take warm clothing,
and they are now threatening
to cut off the food supply.
[ Man ]: You guys could just
leave it open, you know.
We're not going nowhere.
[ Narrator ]: Getting food
into the treatment centre
is becoming more
and more difficult.
[ Bolt pin ]: Look,
the bags have been poked at.
Look, they've been stabbed.
[ Mad jap ]: Each one of
the bags-- the flour,
the cereal-- anything
that has that kind of bag...
- How do we know they
didn't put nothin' in it?
[ Woman ]: Every orange is
pierced and the bananas
are very ripe, they've been
squished, just soft in my hand.
This oil is empty, basically.
It has been pierced by something
and leaked out all over,
created a mess.
Bacon... they're gonna
cholesterol US to death.
[ Narrator ]: Geoffrey York
of the globe and mail
leaves the treatment centre.
There's only two reporters left
for mainstream newspapers.
There's no cbc reporters left,
there's no broadcast
reporters at all.
Well, I think the thing
that's the most unbelievable
is that in a country like
Canada we're allowing the army
to tell US what can be
published in our newspapers
and what can be put
on our nightly news.
[ Narrator ]: At a press
conference, Terry doxteter
describes the negotiators'
final proposal
for disengagement.
[ Reporter ]: Do you
sense there might be
a risk involved here because
you're willing to lay down
your gun before they...
[ Narrator ]: The government
has just announced
that the army will be
replaced by the sq.
- The greatest risk
right now is that
should the army pull out,
sq will move in
and not be interested in
seeking peace and having peace.
They'd be more interested
in seeing these men dead.
[ Narrator ]: Back in tc,
behind the razor wire,
the army uses
high-pressure water hoses
against the warriors.
[ Shouting ]
They throw condoms full
of water at the soldiers.
[ Warrior ]: Where's
your wife tonight?
♪ Music
[ narrator ]:
On September 26,
after 78 days under siege,
the people reach a consensus.
They will walk out of tc.
[ Brian Mike Myers ]:
For the moment,
we have to endure persecution,
we have to endure our
people being mistreated
in the courts, in
the jails, being beaten,
being bayoneted.
For now.
But in the long
course of history,
the face of Canada will
be politically, socially,
economically and
spiritually changed...
Back in favour of our people.
And who knows how our
great-grandchildren
are going to rewrite that?
That's totally up to them,
but we will at least be able
to leave the earth knowing
that while wewere here,
we did all that we could
to set in motion for
them a better future.
And so for me that's
what kanehsatake is about.
[ Man ]: Once the anger
goes, it seems like
the only thing that's
left is the sadness--
and just being tired.
I think I would like to just
get away and not remember,
not think about it
for a while--
just rest...
And heal.
I'm with good people.
[ Narrator ]:
Through all this time,
the people took strength from
ancient spiritual ceremonies.
Now they prepare
themselves to face
whatever awaits them outside.
[ Man ]: Having these
ceremonies, you know,
I started realizing
who I am, huh?
I didn't come here
to kill people, you know?
I just came here
to protect the land.
[ Cheers ]
The government is going too far.
We only could take
so much, you know.
♪ Music
[ narrator ]: There were
never more than 30 warriors
here in tc.
And one spiritual leader,
one traditional chief,
19 women and 7 children.
♪ Music
[ The general ]:
We have to think about
the future generation...
Grandchildren,
great-grandchildren.
Constantly talk to them about
our ancestors, you know, how
hard they fought for this land.
They sacrificed their lives.
There's a long trail
of broken promises.
[ Chanting ]
They were prepared
for anything.
If the people
from tc came out,
they weren't surrendering.
They didn't have their hands
held above their heads.
They were going home.
But the spirit was there.
We never surrendered.
It was an exit.
It was like bein'
in a twilight zone.
We never did the expected thing.
It was always the unexpected
and they... they weren't ready.
Where the fuck's my baby?!
L'autre bord
de la ligne!
- Les mains dans le dos,
c'est Beau.
Don't move! Don't move!
- Ok, les journalistes,
back off a bit,
back off, back off,
back off, please!
[ Mixed voices yelling ]
It was bad enough
for US, the women.
I mean, the men knew they
were gonna be beat up on.
We all took care of each other
as best we could.
[ Babe ]: One of them twisted my
arms, trying to break my wrists.
Another guy came over,
banged my head on the road.
Then they put
the cuffs on me.
But I would laugh
and I'd say things to them.
He says "give up, you lost now."
I said we didn't lose.
It made 'em even more...
Started struggling more,
so they put more guys on,
jump on top.
And they see the women and kids
laying all over the ditches,
and all that.
[ Lorna ]: I saw one man
being dragged on the ground
on his back,
and he was holding on
to one of the masks.
And another one
was standing up.
He wasn't doing anything
to provoke the soldiers,
and they were poking
the bayonets at him.
They were pushing him around
and they were hitting him.
And he was just
protecting the mask.
[ Bolt pin ]: A little boy
who couldn't get over the wire
and I grabbed him
by the collar.
In the confusion, he just
got lost with his mom and that.
So, when I had him,
she was laying
face down on the ground,
and they had handcuffed her
with the metal handcuffs.
And then she had
a pack on her back,
and she was hurtin'.
So they couldn't get
the satchel off her back.
So they says, "cut it
off with a knife".
Well, the boy had seen this,
and now he was crying.
[ Screaming ]
A 14-year-old girl was
bayoneted in the chest.
Uh...
She was protecting her
four-year-old sister.
It was really awful.
What saved her from that
bayonet going straight in
instead of sideways must have
been the spirits on our side.
[ Screaming ]
[ Commotion ]
[ Narrator ]: Some people
reach the village in oka,
but noriega is arrested
by the sq.
You're gonna kill
my family?
My family,
I want my family.
Get the camera off...
They lied to US.
When is it gonna end?
When are we gonna have
our fuckin' rights?
When are we gonna be
treated like humans?
Look at that.
When is it gonna end?
When bourassa has all
our headstones lined up?
That's not when it's gonna end.
Their circle's not finished.
It's not finished.
[ Chanting ]
[ Bolt pin ]: They got US
leanin' against the bus,
and they started puttin'
the plastic handcuffs on,
and then we got inside
and somebody had
a fingernail clipper.
And as they came in
we were snippin' 'em off.
So, we had a whole bunch
of these plastic bands.
Finally, then I threw
'em out the window.
A little while later,
all of a sudden
the mp passes by and sees
them on the ground.
I don't know if he knew
where they came from,
but everybody was...
Had no handcuffs
except the ones that
had the metal handcuffs.
[ Woman ]: Then we started
rockin' the bus like crazy,
we sang some traditional songs,
just to comfort everybody.
We just knew we had to stay
strong and not to be afraid.
[ Bolt pin ]: The mp says
"if anyone makes a move,
shoot 'em, just shoot 'em."
Now if he'd have known
nobody had handcuffs on,
we could have jumped him.
But it was over.
It was finished
when they found out
that we were family people.
They thought we were going to
have records as long as our arm.
There was families--
husbands, wives, children.
Who's gonna leave
their family behind?
How it's gonna be
written in history--
if I was a soldier,
I'd be ashamed to say I was
in oka, or kanehsatake.
[ Narrator ]: St-Jerome...
The people are brought to
the courthouse for arraignment.
[ Woman ]: We were here first,
and we sure the hell
ain't gonna leave.
It'll be a day in hell.
This is just the beginning.
[ Woman ]: It's not the end,
we got children.
I hope yous guys put
your children through
this stuff you put US through.
Yous guys jumped on my mother.
My mother didn't do nothin'.
- 'Cause they're animals.
- We ought to stick
you on a reservation,
and take away your land.
- We don't ask for
anything that's not ours.
You came and you took.
You took!
[ Cheers ]
Did we save any children?
If we did, it was worth it.
[ Woman ]: Stay strong!
You take one arrow and break it.
But when you get a whole
bunch, you can't break it.
And that's the people
stickin' together.
[ Chanting ]
[ Voice of chief Joseph ]:
This land is ours.
Ours as a heritage
given to US
as a sacred legacy.
It is a place where
our fathers lie beneath
those trees.
Our mothers sang our lullaby.
And you would tear it from
US and leave US wanderers,
at the mercy of fate.
[ Narrator ]: July 1992.
All but three
of the defendants
in the oka trial
are acquitted by a jury.
The cost to the federal
and provincial governments
was over 155 million dollars.
Mayor ouellette was re-elected,
and the land issue
is still not resolved.
Nikjikapta'sit kitpu,the
general, known as Tom Paul,
the general from eskasoni,
died February 1992.
He was 49 years old.
He had taken part in
the resistance at wounded knee,
ganienke, restigouche,
akwesasne and kanehsatake.
- Go back to learning
the spiritual ways.
That way everybody
will be strong.
[ Chanting ]
[ Chanting ]
[ Helicopter ]
[ Chanting ]
[ Woman ]: That's a part
of US, that's a part of me.
These trees are
the biggest ones
I've seen in our territory.
Before the Europeans came,
we had trees like this
all over the place.
- We were a small
number of people
but the quality of the people
that were there was...
It was just outstanding.
Closed captions
sous-titrage plus inc.