Oka Crisis

The Oka Crisis was a 78-day standoff in 1990 between the Kanesatake Mohawk community and the Canadian government. It started when the community opposed a proposed golf course expansion on land they considered sacred and historically theirs. Tensions escalated, resulting in armed violence, police and military intervention, and the temporary siege of the area. The crisis highlighted longstanding issues of Indigenous land rights, sovereignty, and how government decisions often neglect Indigenous perspectives. It brought national attention to Indigenous struggles and led to increased efforts for dialogue and reconciliation in Canada.