fi(l:m ilihe Splrit 'AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1990 No. 3 On September 281, th lstofthe resisting Mo- hawk people Ift the Kanesstske Treatment Centre, bringing an cnd 1 the L1-week sundoff between the Mohawk Nation and their alles, and sate securty forces. Before laving o be taken 1o & earby miliary base andihen ontoprosecution, Mohawksopied o burm their wespons 0 communication cquipment rather than have them fall ino the hands of enemy forces. AL this point, the i e information on the development ofthestaes'prsecutionof the Mohawks andtheralles asallthosenvolved nthe ials are forbiddentodiscuss it publicy. Whati presenly known, is that at least & Warrors ae bing detined and havebeca denid bal ‘Weillrintnformation onhe al and sopport organ. izingfor Mobawk defendants 15 we receive . This specal bllein of ARM THE SPIRIT is devoted 10 all those presently facing sate prosecuton for defending their communites 1nd advancing the. struggleof Ntive sovereigaty. Thebulkof tisssue we present s th second half of a chronology of events sumounding the siruggle in Mohaw Nation erto thefirstappearsin ur astisue. tshoped hattogether ey willprovide arly detaled account of events and insight oo the states” esponse 0 uch a siution. ‘The sandoff boganinth carly morming hours of July 11,1990 when Mohawks in Kenesaake success fully esisicd a polie assaulon the baricads ey had rectedfourmonthscarltohalthe cxpansionof a gl courseentotheilad Latertha day, nan st o soldar- ity, the Mohawks of Kahnawske biockaded al scess rouies o the eritory, ncluding the Mercer Brdge, 8 ‘major commter lnk o the city of Morirel. ince then, Mohawks in botheritores have been forced 0 defend theis commurites agiost massive. counte-insurgency campaign waged by the govern. mea. Thiscampaign involved a careful manipulationof thepress anda barage of physica ssauls,clminatng i the miliary invasion of bosh eritoris, ‘One aspect of the stse disinformation campaign hasbeena consantttemp1o isolae anderiminalizethe ‘Warrors of the Mohaw: Natio. Throughou the stand- off the media presened the Mohawk communiy a5 being fundamenally divided beween Warriors, who, theycharacierizeda extrmistsandcriminals and o, ‘moderate Mohawks, who they presentd as following. ‘Warror demands outoffer. The purpose of tis s gy was twofold. By depicing the Mohawk communi. ties as under siege by Warriors, the govemment at. temptedio crestea ustifcationforamliary nvasionas wel asintroduce anelement o slf-doub o the Mo- hawk communitie themselves, by which ey couldbe. ided. Despte tis, Mohawks behind the baricades have beca unicd i resistng he sutes”war o then. “The sate also enlisted the med n it efors o place blame on Mohawks fo fuling o reach a pesceful solution. Govermment spokespeople attibuted tis 1o Whatthey said were new precondilionsconsantly being st by Mohawks for the continuance of negotsions. However, in realiy, nothing coud b furber from the trth. Throughout the standoff, Mohawks maintined the sume tree bsic precondiionsfos negoiations; un- impeded access of food, medical supplies and other a team of inemational observrs be present 1 both ‘Mohawk eriories throughout the negoiaing process 10 monitor aggression by sae orces. It has been state aggression and latant volaion of these precondions that has rendered a paceful sluton impossble. Erly agreements 1o have police presence reduced were never met. Sute forces have consistenty blocked aceess of food and much needed medical supplis and hve ssbo- 1aged talks by refusing to let ey negotistors behind Tines. T many cases, people trying 10 emer or leave Mobaw trrories have been ilegally desined snd subjected 1o hysical abuse. As wel, police and millary allowed racsts 1o tiack Mohawk people withimpunty. Thishasparica- Jarly been the case for the Mohawks of Kahnawake. In one nstanc, police prposelysalled Mobaw failis atempting 0 leave Kahnawake,alowing asmll group of racis demonsiratorsgathering outside e terory 1o grow into a larg crowd. When Mohawks stempied o leave, theircars wereauacked with hal of rocks snd botls, eaving one Mohawk, Joe Armstrong, desd snd several ohersinjurd. Police stood by and wached. Police and milary complicty in rais atacks extends even furher. Throughoot the standof staie forcs have done liule while raciss, sometimes ammed ith bascbal bas, have prevented food and medical supplis from entering Kahnavwake As wellex-andoff- duty police have been idetified 4 being smang the most millant and violen of he racis dsmensiraors whohad gathered almstighilyn Chateaugoay. s his climate thas Mohawks eas eprisls for e actions subsequent o the ending of the sundolf. “The sute’s unwillingness 1o meet preccndiions throughout th suandolf s indication that they had o intention of negotiating from the beginaing. Ratber, they prefrred 10 opt for 8 sirsegy based on sallng of negoliaions whil camying out a caefully orchestated disntormaton campaign simed a building sentiment which would help josify a militay invasion. This was accompenicd by constant physical atacks aimed at presuring Mobawks into submission withoutcreating oy manyes On September 1, with the Mercier Brdge barr- cades inthe proces of oming down, it became apparent that e stte fel the conditons creted by tisand ther long disinformation campaign would sllow for a full- scale milary assault o the Mohawk teritories, Tat same day a major milaryfoliceforc, eqipped with heavy weaponry, vehicls and sir suppor invaded Kancsatake, iring shots a5 they advanced. A few days laer, combined millarypolice force invaded Kahn. wake brutalizing Mohawks, inuring ot of . Sste forcs didat maintaina srong presence in Kabmawake. il September 18 when they invaded once agan, s time under the pretext of searching for weapons. So- diers moved in ssuing gunfve and tea gas, foring, dozensof Mohawk people, secking efuge, o rgid . Lawtence River watrs In Kanesatake, the days that followed the ifal sttacksaw he ilary employ every acicthey couldto subduedhe Moawks. As themiliary dvanced, sldirs physicalyassalied Mobawk people. Inone atacka 1. year-old man was beaten so badly that he re immediste hospital care. Meanwhile, police crested a vinul police stte of the suounding sie, seting vp check poins, closing access 0 3 peice camp whers people had gahered i solidaiy, and carying outnu- merous rids on buildings whers some Mohawks hid taken sheleramidst he ammy assaul. ‘Ones the milary had surrounded the Trestment (Centre where Mohawks had eteated to, hey e continued on the back page JuLy 30 Inkeeping with the govermments mediacampaign simed s portraying the Mohawk people 1s unrcason- able and unwillng 10 negoriate the Qucbec Miniserof Native Affirs rleases staement laiming th govern- ment has metall precondiionsfor he esumpion ofne- gotatons and thatth onus now leswith s Mohavks 1o resume talks. Mobawks rspond by stating that pre- conditons have not been met s police continue to disrupt e acees of food, medical supplies and Native advisos behind barricades and tha intemtiona] ob- servrs are ot in present in Kahnawake and Kahnesa- ke, Across Canada, Natives ke sction in slidaity with Mohawks and o bing atenion to their own lnd claim siruggles. Micmacsfrom the Eel Bar River Band sbandon their blockade of Highway 134 sfe the govemment agices,in wiing, 10 met withthem itk one month 1o discus hei land clams nd other grevances. The blockade, consiucted out of cars and large logs, had been erecied Saturday where the highway enters the AUGUST 1,1990 A large crowd of angry Chatesugusy residents gaber i hesrees 10 protestthe Mohaw blockade of the MercierBridge demanding ha the army be brought 1 Oka,a local non-Native merchant has s store vandalized aftr aending own meetng and voicing upport of the Mohawks. Because unlmited sccess by the medis nsid the Kanesaake barcade s demoralizng, Mohawks decide 1o retum the relatonship o more ormalone and limit accesstospecificarea. A aresul hemediawithdraws, ciing falsely, thebaring ofthe MotreslGazetieaspart of the reason (the Monireal Gazete s bared from Kahnawake and Kanesatake becauseof i acist et~ sis policie). AUGUST 2, 1990 ‘Quebec Premier Bourasss hods a news confer- ence alongside epresentativs of the Assembly of Firs. Nations t announce the Quebee goverment’s sccep- e of al the Assembly of Firt Nation's (AFN) pr- conditions 10 resume negotaions on the dismantlingof Mohawk baricades. Quebee Provincial Police (QP), armed with scarch warranis, nfec major sationsand seize vide- otapes contaning footage o the July 11 polic astault on Kunesatake, partculaly that of “masked and smed individuals atacking vehicler Jouralists covering the sundoff grow incress- ingly frustrated at th lack o acces bohind the barr- ades. Mobawk represenatives meet with eporiers to Jain that many Warrors worry sbout the medi sortingheisoriesa theyfelt wronged by ournsliss covering the pro- and anti-gambling confic in Ak- It GUST 3, 1990 In orde 10 increase ani-Naive sentimen, Chy teauguay residents block rsh-hour rafic onthe nessby ‘Champlain bidge. The mob claimed this cton was to pressure the govemment nt taking action againstthe Naive blockade ofthe Mercie bridgs. AUGUST 5, 1990 Premicr Boursssa ssues an ulimatum 10 Mo- vk o resum 0 the egoniating able within 48 hours orthe province wil take spproprise scton. Canadian represetaives contine 1 sste that they have met preconditonsforth contnuing of nego- tiaious, although Naives say i is simply not tre. Naives eiterae their three precondtions as 8 food, ‘water,cohing and medica supplis must flow fecly o the 2 reserves; b)legal advsors, Clan mothers and spiritul leaders must hav free access and o longer faceharassmentapon esering and leaving he reserves; and o) intermational observers, o ensure imparislity, mustbepresnt. Natives st f hesepreconditons are. notmet withinthe theeaened 48 hourshey will aveno ther choice but 0 prtect and defend theibaricades. In n stcmpt 0 o-esablsh good reltions with the media, Nativs ssue some easonable gidelines for the ressiofollow. Guidelines nclode: seting sppoit- mens for inteviews; no media tendance st public meeings,unless invited; having the media guided by 8 ‘memberf the mediarelations cam; and requesting they say backof resticed aeas AUGUST 6, 1990 Mobawks sae they i denounce it s a threat. Frastated commters continue o stageblockades of theirownto show thei anger at govermment inaction and,agan, o build ant-nave sentiment. Atant-ntive protests in Chateaugoay, leruare and evidence was collcted which confims the organizing ofthe Ku Klux Klan, ignore the ulimatun snd AUGUST 7,199 “The hourof Bourassa's ulimatum passes with no acton seen on the pant of the govemment or police ‘Dozznsof Oka esidens fle the town earinga vioent showdoun. AUGUST 8,199 Premicr Bourassa calls in the army undes the preenseof“ensurng public safety”and s aback-up for the Surete du Quebee (5Q - Quebee police). AUGUST 11,1990 Naives, mostly Ojibwa,blockade 2 Canadian onal Ralway lines sriching acros thei terriory in Longlac, Ontaro demanding tha the govermment ad- dres i and cains. AUGUST 12,199 ‘At about 1000 pm, a poice force, comprised of QPP and Royal Canadian Mouned Police (ROMP - Canadian polic force) atack an ani-Natve demonsts tion of 2000 eopleatthe Mercier Bridge blockade it tear gas Policeviolenlyatack another demonstaicn ona drawbridge clscwhers over the SL. Lawrence Seawa s was also a protestagaint cotinued Native lock- ades. 150 riot gear clad cops charge demonstesors pinning them 10 th ground and icking them repest. edly. Obers arehit withclobs and police damge cars usd by proestrs o block the parrow bridge. Eight peopleareaesied. About 200 peopl, some ammed with baseball bats, ollow polics and the arestedio the polce saon whero they destroy two squad cars and brake ‘windows n the stion. An agreementissigned n the 3 precondidionsfor negotiations and alks resume. A priority and frstftem, ontheagendais thetems by whichpoliceand army may be withdeawn from Kahnavake and Kanesaiake. AUGUST 13, 199 tinue with conrontatons becween police and protesors leading 1 over 2 dozen amests. Ones agein, th polce use tea gas 0 quel roters. 200 Natve eaders from across Cansds gt 0 crash the Premier's snnul conferencein Winzipeg but areprevenied from eering by riot gear-clad police. A few offduty polie and ex-police offcers are idenified as among the more violent acst demonsira. tors in Chateaugusy. AUGUST 14 More than 2,600 Canadisn soldiers ina convoy of 1,14 millay vehicls ake posiion near Kahnawake. 54 Kanesatake. The roops move int 4 locations: St. Benoitand Blsinvill,within 20kmof Ok, St e, 20 kmsouthof Kahnawake; and Faraham, 60k souh st of Kahnavake. Ani-blockade demonsraors clash with polics sgsin. AUGUST 15 Miliary presence a Kahnawake and Kanesatske isclarly not inended 1o control civilunvest s prev- ously sisted. Throughou the areas, ammed forees are backed by 60 amored personnel carriers, 20 smored vehicls equipped withheavy plows, 20 armored rockst unchersand more with helicopte ganships o provide it suppor. Ceruainly the obectve i o hreaten and ul- imately assault the Mohaw: peopls i the 2 srea. A beavily armed 6-person reconnassance toam from the Cansdian Ammy comes clos 10 provoking ‘ammed confrontation on the perimeter of the Oka golf course. The incident was immediaely reporied 1o ob- serversfrom the Intrmational Human Righis Comn sion and a formal complaint will b lodged Previously,milary spoterplanes andhelicoptrs armed with heavy-calibe machine guns are sighied. Upon questining the Assstant Deputy Miniser sates hatthese milary acts ae administativ. AUGUST 16 Negotiaions 1o end the sandoff a2 moved 10 & secetlocation at Mohawks request 0 avoid continued harassment by reporters, A spokesperson for CN Rail requests Ontaro Provincal Polce (OPP)interventonto end a il block- ade by Ojbwa naives in Longlac, Ontaio. The OPP refuses 10 intervene while negotitons between the Ojbwa and govermment officals are taking plac. AUGUST 17 ‘GeneralJohn de Chastelin sanounces that army will replace police 8 both barricades a the request of Premer Baurses (CN secks Supreme Courtinjunciontoremoverail blockade by Ojibwa in Langlac “ThePic Mobent Bandblockades aCP Railline ear Whie River, 300 km northweser of Sault S, Marie, Ontri, AUGUST 18 ‘Supreme Court grants CN Rail request for an i juncion rdering Ofibwa o remove tei rail lockade. in Longhac. Ojibwa natives refuse 1o dismantle the blockade. Brigadier General Armand Roy, Commander of the Sih Mechanized Brigade announces he has given onders 0 over 1,400 soldicrs o prpare o replsce QPP atboih baricade, AUGUST 19 ‘Undes threat of imminent attac by OPP, Ojibwa natves dismande the ral barricade 3 an ctof good i, AUGUST 20 ‘Army moves intoreplace policeat Mercer ridge barricades. Police buricades are dismaniled and the ammy posions armored vehicls, equipped with heavy calbee machine guns and rocket launchers sbout 100 metses away fom the Mohawk baricade. Earth movers atcposioned behindthearmored vehicles and soldiers digtreaches nd stup sand bag baricades. Simila - crtions ke place i S other locstons around Kaha ke, In Kanesaake, Mohawks suspend negotstons afe it i leamed tht the army intnds t extend their perimeer into the demiliarized 200e sepaating both barmicades “The Pic Mobert Band receves s courtinjonctionto dismantle thir -day old baicade AvGUST21 Justasthe ic Mobers Band blockade of the CP il line in White River i coming down andtrsng are e againbeginaing tomove,naives onthe Pay Plat Native tertitory (120 km norhesst of Thunder Bay) ercct 8 barricade on CP Rail's min line, effecively bringing s 10. al nce again. CP Rail immedistly secks a ‘ount injuncion o have th blockade removed. AvGusT2 An ambulance ransporing a Mohawk womyn experiencing srious complicationsafie arly morning childbinth, and her newborn, s siopped by a rcis o ‘while atimpting 1 cross the Mercer Bri hosita in Montreal. The mob demands o see inside e ambulance forproof of th kgitmacy of the cmer- eacy. Afte sbout an hour of delay,daring which time the womyn s severely hemorrhaging the smbulance is alowed 10 pass through o 10 the Brdge where she is ransfered 1o & Monres ambulsnce At approximately 4:15 pm, § Kahnavake Mo- hawks retuming from work arive t the baricade st Route 207 anly o find a crowd of rcist demonsrators. In order to avoid incdent, the Mohawks decide 1 proceed 1o the access rouie 1o Kahawake on Highway 132 However,they arive atthis sccess pointonly o find anothr racst mob. Here the Mohawks attempt enty ino thei teriory. Asthey pass the crowd, a roc s thrown t. tho lead Mohawk vehicle, The vehicle ops,the men get out nd a ight ensues. ‘The SQubserve the rcist atack from n- de thei cas and do nothing, Three or four amy soldiers approach the Mo- hawks and tell them to ot he neutral 2ome. The soldiers then take the Mo- hawksidentification cards and give them 101he SQ. Duringthis e, represent- tive o the Kahmawake jutice commite. amivesand informs the Mohawk men that the SQ has Iid 8 charges against them. A Thiee of he men rsist and cross ver Mohawk AUGUST28 Negotiatons are suspended ss the govemment continues 0 refuse 0 ecogaize Mohawks as members of a sovercign mtion. AUGUST26 Mhawks begin to consider opening upa lans on the Mercie Bridge toallow the pasage of traic. ‘Canadian troops and QPP stand by s non-Natve ‘mabs sopthe passage offood and medical spplie into Kahnawke in vioatlon of the govermment agreement. Amemberof he ntemational Human RightsFed ention, the groupof ntermationalobservrs,hs hiscar atacked by s crowd wiclding basebal bais tying 10 prevent him from entering the Kahnavake reseve. He. siaes“we've neverknown suchdiffculies while aciing a5 observers in conflcs n other couniies” and "t only persons who have trested me in civilized way in {his mater her is Canad are the Mobawks.” AvGUST 21 Hours fer ks are ended by federal and provi- i negotaions Mohawks are t0ld that the army will e 50 e Wy SRR baricades. The therfiv arsaken o cusody. “ d Later, in Chateaugay,a racis mob atacks ‘Vancouver.based photographe of Mexisn descent, Q mistakenly believing h Is 8 Mohawk. The mob kicks and it onhim shouting acist sl s foces i 10 expose hs film. AuGUsT 3 In an caly moring manceuver, the army ad ‘vances s milay position 1172 kam loser o the west emfront of Kanssatke At9:30 am, bus ransporing Mobawk negotia- ors 0 8 Trapist Monastery i the town of Oka s su rounded by 4 amy anks and 60 calibre guns a1 aimed in atth occopanis. Anoiher groupof negotaorsfrom the Akwasasne Mohawkteritoryarealso detsined sndrefused sccess o thearea, AuGUST 24 Negotiaions ente a crical siage as represen- tives specificlly address the removal of baricades in Kabnawake snd Kanesatake Racist mob, some armed with basebal bats and ifon bars gather round Kahnawake snd prevent food and medica supplies from enteing the terrory. In Kanesaake, the army advances s posiion within 20 km of Mohawk baricades jeopsrdizing delc begin1o tar down Mohawk baricades. “Thearmy ssts i will s force only if bliged o dosoby Warriors", nd that it has the foce ecessary 1o overwhelmthe Mohawks. Mohawks s his a 3 decls- aton of ware and sat “Now that war s being forced ponus, we will tum our hears and minds 1 war and it 100 we il wage with sl our might. Ours i just snd honarable positon, it flows from ous laws andour ways. Our nemies have o such honour” AL spproximatcly 10:30 ampm??, in Kaness- take,the army s thei guns a Mohawk lneswhilea- emping 0 move a vhicle into the dispued triory. Within minutes, Mobawk people confront the srmy move and th areais swamned by reporters. The sy immediaely lowers ther weapons and reizeas their hrestending advance. AUGUST 28 ‘Asfamilesatempt o leave the Kabnawake terr- tory, a racist mob of 500 throws rocks and botles st them. Windshields are broken and many people are njured, including a small baby it in th fce by a rock. Despite theie iniilly only being a few demonsrators, police et thecrowd buid by slowly checking th iden ification of everyons attemping o lesve Kahnawske, even babics, i order 0 insill n image of the Wariors s ter. rorists,a milary videoof the Warrios rmed forifica- ons and weaparryis shown o the federa cabinet snd the medi Malroney wams that ime s p and that the amy. willinvade very soon. T Toront, 12 protstes are amsied outside the fedenal government office downtown. Later 800 sup- porterstie uprush-our affic while marching o' large nlly a Queen's Par. AUGUST 29 ‘Army snd Mohawks work togeher o dismantle burricades on the Mercier Bridge. It s not known ‘whetherthis is a3 resultof ks o sn arecment on the frontlines. The Mercer Bridge couldbeopenina couple of days, Mobavwks will remain inact. Kanesaiake sat tha theisbarcades AUGUST 30 ‘Natves seothatonce agan thirtrsthas bocnvio- Iatedas the army anmounces the Nativeswill bing down baricades hemselves withthe rmy helping nly when necessary. As a esult work on dismanting the bari. ades stops and tlks between the amy and Mobawks collspse. AUGUST 31 T s gestore o good futh, Mobawks of Kahnawake begin,once agan, o dismanile the barricadeson the Mercie Bridge. CP Rail files a note of i's it 10 sue 2 Native bands that blocked is rail lines.Ina sstement, it s8id it would sve the Pays Plat Ojbwa Band for S3T-mil. Tion 10 recover damages caused by their 3-day rail blockade. T West Brlin, people occupy the ‘Canadisn Milary consl n 4 sction ofsolidarty withthe Mobawk peopl. SEPTEMBER 1 Ammored persomnel cariers and army rops backed by helicoptes and tiled by 3 town busfilled with provincial police dressod iniotgear begin theradvanceon Kanesatake, By 1030 am, the milfry reaches the pine forest jost outside f the dispuied golf cours aea nd soldirs fire S shots early hiting severalpeopleasthey advance. Vel conrontaions ensue between soldier and retrating Mohawksas amny coninucs 1o advancointhe teritory. By 1:00 pm, the ammy had reached and sur. rounded s commiunity cenir filled with 100 Mobaw. Joe Ammstrong dies o whats belived t behesrt failure 2 a esult of being soned by racst mob on Augusi28. SEPTEMBER 2 AC8:15pm, the amy reachesand skes control of the last remaining Kanesaiake barrcade on Highway 34, Soldiers backed by amored persomnel cariers quickly suroundth area with barbed wire and by night £l the msin Mok baricade made o arge logs, in and police vehicles commandeered from the sbortive July 11 ai,is dismantied. Mohaws rerest o thei headquarers (formerly a0 slcoholtestmen centre)abous 270 metrs rom the baricade and begin o forfy theidefenses by igging renches. Mohawks invie 13 joumalists to the head- quariers 1o witnes the antiipated sssaut Troops clar e lastof the Mohawk baricades on e Mescies Bridge and choose o occupy i, rather thn open i up immedintly. SEPTEMBER 3 ‘Army begias o move i a1 7:30 s snd withi 30 ‘minuies, soldiers and 35 armored vehicles posiion themsclves approximately 40 metres fiom trenches around Mohswk headguarters. Mohawks espond othe. ‘move by further forifying their perineier by digging ‘mre trenches and by downing s As patof the army's campig of pychological warfare, soldiers et up huge floodlighsshinng i the. ‘Mobawk headquariers windows 24 hoors a day and. denies access of f00d, medical supplies and Native, advisors. QPP begin o se up check poiat n various o tions around Ok, Curt Lessar, a Mobaw i aresiod tryingt0cross a checkpoint aftr leaving 8 nearby foo- dban whereabout S0 Mohawk people ve besnholed up since the amny invasion. He ischarged with 10 of- fenses. It s discovered tha 2 other Mohawks, Deanis LaFrance and Gabriel Sicote, have also been arted. Police efuse o iven information on howimany people have been arresed s fo. AL6:30pm, ammy troops,followed closely by SQ invade Kabnawake and head ssigh fothe Longhoust a sacred Naiive meeting place. Troopt aso cncircle ‘cookhouse where 35 wimmin forn a humanbaricade an atempt o stop roops rom advancing, Polic que tion about 75 people onc inside the Longhouse. Three areijured in the combined mlitrypolice sssaul nd aretakentothe orpital One womyn hadherrbsbroken afer being sashed wih the but of arife. ne, the Nativ erriory which was the just s past May, Natves dem- onstating in solidarity with Mohavks beind barr- cades overtam 2 QPP cars and smash the windows of 8 polce o About S0 members of the Aldervill ndian Band disrupt rafic on Highway 45 with pick-up trcks and carsslowing down tafic o a near crawl. SEPTEMBER 4 Inan actof solidariy, Chippews Natives down 5, 40-metze high hydro eleciric owers bevween London, Ontaro and Lambion genering plant near Saria cut ting power at 222 am. Damage is estimated 2 up 1o 750,000, A4 3:15 pm, Mobawk wimmin in Kanessake re- spond to the army's atempt 10 inch thei baricade of razo wir forwaed by pushing wooden barerin front. of . The wimimin are successfl in geting th amy to retum the razor wire 0 the former positon, Verbal confrontaions between Mohawks snd the smy ensuc. a5 soldiers rush 1o th scene aking positons long the Policedisplay arms which hey claim e scized during the rid on the Kahnawake Longhouse. Mo- havwks respond to this police atemps to disredit Mo- awks and justify the asault on Longhouse,in which 3 Peaple were hospialized, by relessng 3 communigue. stating he wespons do not belong o then. Police are challengedto showpicturesof e weaponsathe i of seizure which s common police procedur. Highway 6, just south of Tobermory, Ontario is blocked by over 100 Native people from Cape Croker and Saugeen tesories. ‘Natives of th Six Nations tertory bgin s block- ade of Highway 54 where it an through heitrriory. SEPTEMBER 5 ‘The amy furher increaes i's stanglehold on Kanesaake eritory by sringng razor wire scross the Otawa River o snare boats tat atempt o leave. A shoving maich ensues between soldier and & Mohawk who siempted o receve amiroefrombehind. barricades which the army had solen at a el dte Although unsuccessfal,the Mohavik evaded soldier’s attempisto detainbin. The Mohawks hadbeen sing e, giant o 0 reflctthe loodlghts the army hs fo- cussed on the Moawk headguartrs. Ntiveson the Bruce Trail Peinsulasdd logs o heisbaicades sctoss Highway 6. Nativesof the Six Nationsterioryblockadehigh- way and il lnes through thei and SEPTEMBER 6 Merser Bridge is e-opened 1o trfi but srmy forces maintaintheirpresence in th ars SEPTEMBER 7 (Capialispress idenifies nd publshes names of some individus] Warrors, Peigan Naives, fire waming shots 10 prevent RCMP from moving in environment crews and hesvy cquipment nio the ste where they have been working foroveramonth o diversthe Oldman Rier,in sn effort 1o siop the goverment dam projectthere. This S350- million project, whichis 75% complete,will lood nd destroy Naive lands. Naivesoffera-pointplanfocesston ofhosili- ties;th pln i rejected by the Canadian government. SEPTEMBER§ ‘Ontariocourt grantsannterimnjoncion baning Six Naions Natives fom blocking a CN Rail spur ine. hrough Brantord and Highwsy 51, (CBC pull s reporersand v camers crews from Mobawk headquares, An inreasing mumber of Native snd non-Native: supporers are gahering n a park on the outskins of Ok A warrantisssued for Miton Bom With A Tooh. He s charged wih the unlawful use snd unlawol dis- charge of afireamn rlaing o Sptember when Peigan Naives fred warming shots inanaiemp o resst police atcmpts 1o move heavy equipment and crews entesng their Okdman River diverson e A S1-year-old Native man st the testment e is severly beaien by soldirs who came through the wire He haslaceraions tha equie stiches nd i told e mst come out and b reated by semy medics,which, s toally unacceptable. SEPTEMBER 9 SixNations Ntives end blockade of CN Rl ater court injuncion s granted on Saurday. RCMP leave site where Peigan Natives have been digging adiversion sie. The reseat comes afer Courtof ‘Queen’s Bench justicemakes pleafors calmingof en- sions fearing increased miliant ressance o dam proj- ectby Naives. SEPTEMBER 10 AWarior Tie ierakeroon, whothad een hospi. talzed afier September &b beating by soldies signs sgrecment with army allowing himself 10 be taken to military insitaon for up 10 30 days while polce inves- tigue. SEPTEMBER 11 Bourassa rjects Mohawk peace proposal caling for ajont commission with the Qucbec snd Canadian Eovemments 1o invesigate evenss sumounding, the tand-off. The proposal sl would have the 39 hecisres of land thattrigered the stand-of tumed ove 1o Mo- hawks. As wel, while the nvestigation commenced, ‘Warriors would bedetined by thearmy. QPP woaldrnol e parofnvestgation ecause of fea hat thy are ot forrevenge. “Ti Kiestakeroon and his companion e taken by milaryescor from th millary compound s Farnham 10 he QPP and both ar charged with various offenses TieKietakeroon faces severalchargesincluding pubic ‘mischief, obstruction of jusic, possession of s danger. ‘ous weapon,disobeying courtrder and wearing adis- uise. ‘Subseguent o the ejection of the September St offer, Ntives prseat 0 the govemment second pro- posalto ceas he hosilies. SEPTEMBER 13 AL7:35 pm, army cutsall hone snd fu s tothe Tretment Cenreand shor wave adio coniac betwoen Warrior and cutside i jammed. Warriorssec only sble 10 commanicate by celular phone. The Amny informs medisthat there is o guarantces fortheir safety snd renews its demand for unconditonsl surender by Mohawks “The QPP cstabishs road blocks a Highways 344 and 640, blocking all access o the soldarity Pesce ‘Camp and coninues 10 harass people by sopping and. searching all vhicls in the arca. “The army cuis off acces o presription drgs 10 people behind the lnes. SEPTEMBER 14 Anlficial with the Six Natios loguois Confed- cray sates that Natves willstikeouta ydro snd sl lines across Canads f any Moawk bloodissilledinn armed sand-of, staing “they can' guard it ll Inetaliotonfor aving hei phonelines cur, War siors disconnec an amy hodline hat s v fo diect talks with rmy offcal, eaving them withonly celllsr phones ‘Ammy pessonnel vhicles nd spprosimately 300 $Qund 105Q vansclose highway 132 off o taffic and proceed o camy ou aids on buidings inth ares. SEPTEMBER 15 Acouinjunciionis swarded allowing the QPP 1o ut o celllar communicaton from the Warrior com. pound which means great ificuly for thenews media 1o get photos and sories out. Canadian Association of Joumalists ssus siate- ments denouncing the cuting of joumalists’ phone lines. SEPTEMBER 18 Avspprovimately 2:05 pm, under the pretext of sarching for weapons, « combined force of army and polie nvade Kahnawake. Soldirsfire pprosimately 1020 waming shots nd fire tear gas dirctly into the crowd of 300 Mobawks. With nowhere torereat, doz- ens of men, womyn and chidren jump nto the figi . Lawrenceriver o escapethe burning . 75 Mohawks (some of them small chikdren and the lderly) and 19 soldiers are ifured. In ks, empersbrefly flare 23 Wartior, inplain viewofsoldiers, cuts through azor wireto walkontothe beachand reiieves 2 army smoke cannistrs. Lter, o dies, with bayonets affxed stand waich a5 another 8r0up repairs e broken wire. SEPTEMBER 19 “The ammy says i will ot et the resstance yeser- day preventthem from continuing thei sarch or i den wespons in Kahnawake. Mohawks site further confrontations will be met with strong resistance. SEPTEMBER 20 Canadian Civil Libees Assocision calls for sn inquiry into the actions of the army in Qucbec a3 it s charged with violating th Chareer of Righis. The Asto- citonalso cals on Bill MeKright, Ministrof Defense, 1o einsae elephone communication for joumaliss, ‘The Deputy Premierof Qusbec, speaking in the absence of the vacaioning Premicr, sais that th prov- afe it i leamed that the army inends o extend their perimeer nto the demiliarized 200 scpaatng both bamcades “The PieMobertBand receivs s ourtinfunctionto dismane their 4-day old baicade. AvGUST21 Juskasthe Pic Mobert Band blockade o the CPrail- linein White River iscoming down and sins sre once again beginning o move,natives o he Pay lat Native temiory (120 km norheast of Thunder Bay) erect a barricade on CP Rail's main ln, effectively bringing g 10 a hal ance again. CP Rail immediatly secks & oun injoncton o have the blockade removed AvcusT22 ‘An ambulanc trnsporing & Mohavk womyn experiencing srious complications e arly morning childbih, s her newbom, s sopped by rcist mob whil atempting 0 crosshe Mercer Bridgeen route o ospital in Montreal. The mob demands 1 sc inside the ambulance fo proof of the lgiimacy of the cmer. ency. After sbout an hour of delay, duing which tme the womyn s severely hemorhagin, the mbalanc it aliowed 1 passthrough on 10 th Bridge where she i ransfered to & Monirea ambolance. At approximately 4:15 pm, § Kabrawake Mo- hawks reuming from work arive a the barcade at Route 207 only o find crowd ofracist demonstrators. I ordr 1o avoid ncident, the Mohawks decide 1o proceed to the access rou o Kahnawake on Highway 132 However, they arive tthisaccess pointonly o find anothe acist mob. Here the Mohawks atempt iy nto ther tertry. s they pas the crowd, rock i thrown s the lead Mobawk vehicle. The vehicle stop,the men get out and fight ensues. The SQubserveth racist atack fom - side theircars and do nothing. Three or four army solders approach the Mo- hawks nd el them 1 ente the neutal 2one. The soldies then take the Mo- hawks dentificaton cards and give them 10 the SQ. During this e, rpresea- amives and informs the Mohavk men that the SQ has id 8 chargs against hem. AL ihis ime, th SCQ nsists they are e st e of the men resist and cross aver Mohavk Vancauver based photog mistakenly beleving he s & Mohawk. The mab kicks and spits on im shouting racistslurs andforces him 1o exposehis film. AvGusTB In an carly moring manoeuver, the army ad- vances s miliary position 1172 kmcloser o the west- em front of Kanessake. At9:30 am, bus ransporing Mohawk negatia- 1075 10.3 Trapist Monastery in the town of Ok is sur- rounded by 4 army tanks and 60 calibe guns aresimed i at the occupanis. Aniher goupof negorstorsfrom he Akwasasne Mobawkteritoryarealso desined nd rfused access o teares. AUGUST 24 ‘Negotiaions eater a criial siage as represenia- tives speciically address the removalof baricades in Kabnawake snd Kanesstake. Racist mabs, some armed with baseballbas and iron burs gather around Kanawake snd prevent food and medical suppliesfrom eteing the terrtory. In Kanesuake, the amy advances s posi within 20 km of Mohawk baricades jeopardizing del AUGUST2S Negotisions are suspended as the goverment comtines 0 refuse 0 rcogaize Mohawks as members of a sovereign nation. AUGUST26 Makawks begin to considr opening upa lane on e Mercie Brdge toalow the passage of afic (Canadian troops and QPP stand by s non-Native mobs sopthe pasage of food and medical supplie into Kalnawake invilaton of the govemment agreemet. Amemberof theInemational Human Rights Fed. cion, he group of inemtonsl bservers, bashis car stacked by a crowd wielding basebal bais trying 1o preventhim from enterng the Kahnavake reserve. He satewe'veneverknown such dificulies whil cting as observers in conflcs in other counties” and “the only perscns who have eated me in civilzed way in 1his mater hee is Canada arethe Mohawks.” AuGUST27 Hours afie talks aeeended by federal and provin- n negottions Mohawks aretold that he army will Despite thei iiilly only being a few demonsiraors, polie et thecrowd build by slowly checkingth iden- tification of everyone itempiing o leave Kahnavwake, even babics. T order o insill n image of the Warors s ter- rorists, amilitary video of the Warriorsamed forifica- tions and weaponryis shown 0 the federal cabinetand the media. Malroney wams that time s up and that the amy. willnvade very soon. Tn Toronio, 12 protstes are asted outside the federl government office downtown. Latr 800 sup- porerstieup rush-bour afic while marching 0 large nlly a Queen's Park. AUGUST 29 ‘Army and Mohavks work togethr 1o dismantle burricades on the Mercir Bridge. It s not known ‘whetherthis i ¢ resultoflks o sn grecment o the fronilines. The Mercer Bridge couldbeopenina couple of days Mokhaws in Kanesatake statethatthirbaricades will remain inac, AUGUST 30 ‘Natves s thatnce againtheirtrusthas ben vio- latedasth army announces the Natives willbring down baricadesthemselves withearmy elping anly when necessary. As a result work on dismantin the bari- ades stops nd tlks between th srmy and Mobawks AUGUST 31 Ina gesturs of good faith, Mohawks of Kanawake begin,once agan, 0 dismantle the baricadeson the Mercie Bridge. CP Railfiles a ote of i's tent 1o sue 2 Native bands hat blocked is ral lines. Ina statemen, i sid it would sve the Pays Pat Ojbwa Band for 37l lion 0 recover damages caused by their 3.day il blockade. n West Berlin, people occupy the Canadian Miiary consulse in n action of solidarty with the Mohawk people. 'SEPTEMBER 1 ‘Amored personnel caries and army oops backed by helicopters and taled by 8 town busflled wih provincal polce dessed it gearbegin heir advance on Knesaake. By begino ear down Mohawk barmcades “Theammy sates i willse force “only if bliged o dosoby Warors", and atthas th forcenecessaryto overwhelm the Mohawks. Mohaws s his s decls. rtion of ware and satc “Now that wr s being forced ‘pon us,we will tum our hearts and minds o war and it 100 we will wage with all our might. Ours i a jut and bonorabe posion, it flows rom our aws sndour ways. Our enemies have no such honour” At spproximately 10:30 amTpm1?, i Kanesa- take,the army sims theis guns at Mohawk lines while - temping 0 move a vhicle into the disputed teriory. Within minstes, Mobawk people conront the amy move andthe arcais swarmed by reportrs. The amy immediately lowers their weapons and reeas their reatending advance. AUGUST 28 ‘As fumiles atempt o leave he Kahnawaks tere- tory, a racist mob of 00 throws rocks and boules a1 them. Windshields ae broken and many people are injored,incloding small baby it nthe ace by a rock. ouiside of e disputed golf course area and soldiersfre 5 shotsneary iting severa people asthy advance Verbal conrontatons ensue between soldiers and recratng Mohawks as amny coninues o advance nthe teritory. By 100 pm, the army had reached snd sur- rounded acommbnity cenre filled with 100 Mobawks, Joe Armstrong diesof wht i believed 1o beheart filue a5 3 resul of being soned by a acist mob on August 28 SEPTEMBER 2 AUS:1S pm, the ammy reaches and akes contol of e last remaining Kanesaake barricade on Highway 344, Soldiers backed by armored persomel cariers quickly surround he are with brbed wire and bynight £l the main Mohavk baricade made o arge logs i and police vehicles commandeered from the sbartive. July 11 raid, i dismanted. Mohawks eteat o thei headquariers (formerly a1 aleobol treatmentcente) about 270 metss from the. barricade and begin o fortilytheirdelenies by igging renches. Mohawks invie 13 journaliss (0 th head- ‘quarters to witness th anicpated assaul. Troops lear h las ofthe Mohawk baricades on the Mercier Bridge and choose o occupy i, rather than, open it up immedisily. SEPTEMBER 3 ‘Army begins to move in 31730 am and within 30 minutes, soldiers and 35 armored ehicls posiion themselves spproximtly 40 metrs from tenches around Mohawk headquartes, Moawks respond tothe. move by furher foriying their perimeter by digging mor renches and by downing large tees. As part of the ammy's campaign o psychological warfre, sodies set up huge floodlighs shining i the Mobawk headguarers windows 24 hours 3 day and denies access of food, medical supplis sad Native advisors. QPP beginto se up check points in various loca- tions around Oka. Cur Lessar, « Mobaw s amested rying o cross a checkpointafe eaving a nearby foo- dbank where about S0 Mohaw people havebeen holed. upsince the amy invasion. He is charged with 10.f. fenses. I s discovered tha 2 other Mobawks, Deanis LaFrance and Gabriel Sicote, havealso been arested Policerefuse 1o given information on howmany people have been resid 1o for. AL6:30pm, ammy toops,fllowed closely by SQ invade Kahnawake and head staight forthe Longhouse, a sacrd Naiive meeting place. Troope also encircl ‘ookhouse where 35 wimmin form a uman barricadein an atempt 0 stop roops from advancing. Police ques. tion about 75 people o inside the Langhouse. Thee. are injured inthe combined militarypoliceassauht nd arotakentothe hospial One womyn hadheribsbroken afer being smashed with the but of & rifle In Ak e Nadive tertoy which was the it of apolicenvasion ust his past May, Natves dem- onstrating in solidaity with Mohawks behind barr- ‘cades overtum 2 QPP cars and smash the windows of & police aior. ‘About S0 members o the Aldervll Indisn Band disrapt ratfc on Highuiay 45 withpick-vp trucks snd. cars slowing down tffic o near cravl. SEPTEMBER 4 T anactof solidarkty, Chippew Natves down'5, 40-metre high hydro eleciric owers between London, ‘Oniariound Lambion generating plant near Samia cut. ting power at 2:22 am. Damage s esimated st up to $750,000. ‘AL 3:15 pm, Mohawk wimmin in Kanssaake re- spond o the army's atiemp 0 inch their barricade of razorwireforward by pushing s wooden bari i ront. of i The wimmin are successtl i geting the ammy to retum the racor wire 1o the former poriton. Verbal confrontations beiween Mohawks and the army ensuc. soldersrus 1 the scene aking posicns slong the Policedisplay amms which hey claen were scized doring the raid on the Kabnawake Longhouse. Mo- hawks respond o hispolice stempt 10 discredit Mo- awks and jusify the assault on Longhouse, n which 3 people were hospialized, by relessing a communique. sating the weapons do not belong to them. Plice 1o chullengedto show picturesofthe wespors s he sie of seizure which is common police procedurs. Highway 6, jus south o Tobermory, Ontaro i blocked by over 100 Natve people from Cape Croker and Saugeen trsiores. Naiives of the Six Nations terory bgin s block- ade of Highway 54 where it s through heiterriory. SEPTEMBER S ‘The amy further increses s stranglehold on Kanesaiake ertory by srining razor wire scross the. ‘Ouawa River 10 smare boats tht tempe o lesve, ‘A shoving match ensues between a soldier and 8 Mobawk whosiempied o reieve amirrorfrombehind burricades which the army had solen s n crle dte. Allbough unsuccessful, he Moavk evaded soldie's ttempts todeta im. The Mohawks hadbeenusng the giant mirto 10 eflect the floodights the army has fo- cused on the Mohaw headquares, Natves o the Bruce Trail Penninsala sdd ogs o heir baricades across Highway 6. NatvesoftheSix Natons tertory blockade high way and allines through thei land. SEPTEMBER 6 Mercier Bridge is re-opened o tffc but army forces mainain theirprescace in e aes. SEPTEMBER 7 ‘Capialis pres densifies and publishes mames of some individual Warrior Peigan Naiives, fire warming shots 10 prevent RCMP from moving in environment crews and heavy equipmentonioth ste where they have ben working foroveramonthio diver the Okdman River, nneffot. 10 siop the govemment dam projectthere. This $350- millon prject, whichis 75% complte, wil lood and destoy Native lands. Naivesoffra -pofntplan o cesstionof hosdl- tis; the plan s rejected by the Cansdian govemmment SEPTEMBER § Oniariocour gants annterim njonction baning Six Nations Naives from biocking a CN Railspr line hrough Branford and Highway 54 (CBC pull s reporers and v camerscrews from ‘Mobawk headquarters. ‘An icressing number of Native and nonNative supporters are guhering in & pask on the outskins of Ok, A varmantisissued forMilton Bom With A Tooth. He is charged with the unlawfl us and unlawl chargeofafiream relating (0 September when Peigan Naivesfired warming shosinanaiemp o resist olice atempis 0 move heavy equipmen and cews aterng. heir Oldman River diversion st A'S1-year-old Native man s thetesiment e i seversy beaten by soldiers who came through the ‘wie.He has lacertions thatrequirs sches and i told e mastcome ot and b reated by army medics,which. s toally unscceptabl, SEPTEMBER 9 SixNations Ntives end blockade of CN Rail ater ‘courtinunction i granted on Saturday. RCMP leave sie where Peigan Nativs have been digginga diversionite. The eea comes fes Courtof ‘Queen's Bench justice makes apleafora camingof ten- sionsferingincreased milant resstance o dam proj- ectby Naives, SEPTEMBER 10 AWarrior, Tie Kieuakeroon, whohad beenhospi- talzed afies September 8h beating by soldies signs agreement with army allowing himsell 1o b taken 1o milaryinsttation forupto 30 ays whil police nves- gate. SEPTEMBER 11 Bourassarejects Mohawk peace proposal calling for a ot commission with the Quebee snd Cansdisn govemmens 1o investigae events sumounding the Stand-off. The poposal also would have he 39 hctares of land that riggered the stsnd-off tumed over 1o Mo- hawks. As wel, while the nvestgation commened, ‘Warriors wouldbe dewined by hearmy. QPP wosldnol be parofnvestgation because of fea thtthy areout forrevenge. “Tie Kietakeroon and his companion e tken by mllaryescort from th millary compound s Fanbam 1 the QPP and botharecharged with variousoffnses. e Kienukeroonfuce sevralcharges ncloding public mischief, obstraction of justice, possessionof s dange ous weapon,disobeying acour order and wearing guise. ‘Subsequent 0 therejecton of the Sepiember Sth offer, Naives pesent 10 th govemment second pro- posal o cease the ost SEPTEMBER 13 ACT35pm, army cuts all phoneandfax inestothe Trcatment Cente and short wave radio ontactbetween ‘Warriorsand outside is jummed. Warios are anly sble 10 communicaie by cellula phone. The Ay informs. media that there is o gusranices for their safety and renews its demand for unconditional surender by Mohaws “The QPP esablishs road blocks st Highways 344 and 640, blocking all access o the soldarty Pesce. (Camp and continues o harass pecple by stopping and searching all vehicles i the aes, “The ammy cuts o acces of prescripion drugs 10 people behind the lnes. SEPTEMBER 14 ‘Anfficial withth Six Nations Iroquofs Confed- eray sates tht Naives willstie outat Rydro and il lines acoss Canada i any Mohawk bloodis siledinn armed stand-of, stating “they can' guad it all” I ealsionfor having ther hone lies cut, War iors disconnect an ammy hotline that i usd fo direct alks witharmy official,leaving them wihonly celuar phoncs Amy personnel vehicles and spprosimately 300 5Qund 105Q vans close highway 132 of o raffc snd proceed 1 cary oot aids on buildingsinthe ares. SEPTEMBER 15 Acounnjuncionis swardedallowing he QPP o ot o celllar commanicaton from the Warrior om- pound which means great diffculy forthe news medis 10 g photos and stories out. Canadian Associaton of Jouralists ssus sate- menis denounciag the cuting of joumalists’ phone. lines. SEPTEMBER 15 At spproximately 2:45 pm, under the preteat of sesiching for weapons, a combined fore of smy and police invade Kabnawake. Soldiers fire approximately 1020 waming shots and fr tar g dircly into the crowd of 300 Mobavks. With nowhere 1o retreat doz- ensof men, womyn and children jomp nto the figid St. Lawrence iverto escape the buming gas. 75 Mohawks (some of them small chikdrn and the elderly) and 19 soldiers are ijured, Ok, empersbrely flare a5 a Warrior, in plain viewf soldiers,custhroughrazor wireto wlk olothe. beach andretieves 2 army smoke canisters, Late,sol- dics, with bayonets affxed stand waich a5 another 8190p repirs the broken wire. SEPTEMBER 19 “The ammy says it will ot et e resistance yester- day prevent them from coninuing hei sarch for id- den weapons in Kahnawake. Mobawks sute further confrontations will be et with siong rsistance. SEPTEMBER 20 Canadian Civil Libetes Associstion calls for sn inquiry into the actons of the ammy in Qucbec a1 i charged with violing the Chrie of Rights. The Asso- ciationalsocallson Bill McKnight, Ministerof Defense, o reinsate elephone communications for joumalists. “The Deputy Premie of Quebec, speaking in the absence of e vacuioning Premicr, sates thathe prov- ince s not responsibl fo he amy’s actons, i direct contradiction tocarlie sttements by Premier Bourasa hat th province s esponsile. SEPTEMBER 24 Asthe opposition ars hei criisms of e cis i Palamen, he govermentttes t will ot negotiste funes with Vohawks uni they surender sl arms snd ignoredthe th all fo the rsignaion of Natve Affsirs Minister Tom Siddon. SEPTEMBER 25 Naive spokesperson Bob Antonesates that most ofthe Warriorsholed up near Oka il themselves overtothe army n the next day ortwo unless he amy's intimidaton acies rgger more hositie. Antone staes “We ae deciding 1o diengage toend the hostli- ties.Wearenotgivenmchaliemative tothatThis s not a sumender” A Warriorstatesthatif the Quebec 1nd Canadion govemments refuse o negoriste once Wariors walk ou, s upto the Canadian people to force e o keep their word and negotiators hit that fulre 10 ct in goodfaithmight cause baricades o once sgaingoupin Kahnawake and Kanesaiske when the westher warms w. SEPTEMBER 26 Warriors sbandon retment cenre in Kaneatske. justbefore nighfall bt inafinal ct of defsnce turm o theleft and head owards Oka insead of o the rightnto the hands of the milary as previously agreed. In wn aticmpt o gain conrol of the sitation soldiers and polie suround ndividual warors and some st ack- led before being handculfed nd thrown into police crisers. Soldiers carry ther ifles with bayonets af- Twenty Years After October... In the wake of the racis reaction of some white Quebecois tothe barricadesat Kanesaiake ard Kahna- wake,the English Canadian media was quick 1o poit ot hypocrisy ofthe Quebecoisdemandfor raional sovereigny while denying therightof Native peoples to dothe same. This was by no means anackowledgment ofthe egitinacy of Naive siruggles bu simply a con- nuation of atacking the Quebecoissiuggle for self- deteminaiion. A renewed movemant for Quebec indeperdance began 0 emerge inthe 60 with s ot in the many strugglestakingplace a s ime. Anglo-Caradianand. American corporate inerests dominated the Quebec. economy, which resuied in high unemploymens amongst Quebecois workers and a standard of living welbelowthe povertyline.As aresutef his domination the movement for Quebec independence was also a movementforsoialchange and o the iberation of th. working class (which represenied 90% of the Quebe- o). The movement had a broad base anging from the ‘bourgeois Part Quebecoistothe radical et groups. Some Quebecois fet that Quebec independence could only b achieved hroughrevoluion and formed. h Frontde Liberationdu Qubec (FLQ).From 1963 1o 1872 the FLQ carried out runerous actions i theform of bombings, bank obberies, armouryrads and poic cal kdnappings. The majority were aimed at attcking Anglo-CanadianiAmerican symbols of colorialism as wellas supporting the miliat labour sruggles taking place athe time. The FLQ notonly developedanational Liberaion perspectve but lassone as wel, realiing hat the liberation of Quebec would only come about withthe lieration of the working class of which they were part. They also bl inks ith ther lieration movemenis such asthe Black Parcher Party the IRA, ETA and o on. Theactionsf e FLQ clminatedin 1970 withthe Kidnapping of a Brish dilomat by a FL cell The reading ofthe FLQ manifesto o rtionaltelevision and. radio was met with the widespread support of the Que- becois working las. A few daysatr another FLQ cell Kidnapped ihe Quebec Miniser of Laborw (and a fow. days aterexecute him).The rime Ministerof Canada responded by decaring the War Measures Act which Sawhe decarationof marialawand over 1000 Cara- diantroopsoccupyingth sieets of Quebec. Almost 00 people were arrsted and held without charges bei laid and thowsands o raids o0k lace. The declaration. fthe War Measures Act was not 10 prevent the “insr recion* tha the government claimed was about 1 ake place buto irikea blow againsihe broaderindepend. ence movement which wasbecoming moreradicalzed, inpart by the actons of the FLQ. Consequerdly, most PLQ members were captured ndhe armedclandestine movement suffered a defat from which it never recov- ered. The independence moverentaiso lst i radical and revoluaionary nature. Today he poverty ofhe Quebecois workin class i the same as it wasprio 1o the evens of 1970, How. ever, the poliical conditions are no the same. The. victoy of the Pari Quebecois (bowrgeois atioaliss) inthe 1976 provicial lections allowedforthe creasion of ihe specifcally Quebecois ruling class and bour- geois, This ruling class has retained power 10 this day. The Quebec ruling clas of the present under- stands the power f natonalismandhasreviveditio e the Quebecois population assupport for the borgeois demands o independent management of Quebec capi. tal. The Quebec poliical closshashijacked ratonaliom and the desve for self-determinaton o pecpl, colo- nized for 200 years,for their own nds, This past sunmer prior 10 the event t Ok, s 250,000 Quabecois march through the sieets caling for independence from Canada. Unfortunaely the movemend for Quebec indeperdence i, for the most par, singl ssue and has o semblance of radicalism, October 1990 marked the 20h anniversary ofthe declaraion ofthe War Maasures Ac.Below we rerint astatement by he Octobre Chaa (Hot October) coali- tion,a group formed o commaorate the evenisof c- tober 1970, on Quebecsovereigntyin relaion toNative sowreignsy. The group was conprised o former FLQ members and ther spporters. While not denying that racism exists amongst white Quebecois we Jeel hat some of he f espoused hecapitalis media's view hat all Quebecois are racis and atacked Naive sover- eigny.Thiswas not he case a many progressive Que. becois labour and social change §104ps came out in support f the Mohawks and organised demonstraions other actions. The Octobre Chaud statement pus his intoperspective when they declare there will b o ‘ree Quebec” withoutthe iberaion of Native pcples”. ‘The Quebec after Kanesatake, more 50 then the ‘Quebccalier Meech, will everb the same. Th Native s, igaered by the aack against the Mohawks of Kanesaske and Kahnawake by the Surie du Quebec. andihe Canadian Army, hs pened anewchspterofour istoy. From now on, the Natve qustioncan pever be disssocited with he futare of Quebee, which mplics anio-dep ransfommationof hesocity that weknow, Mesnwhile, by choosing armed force 1 addrss Native clims, th Statc chosehe worst pton: L f e blind leading the blind 1 the edge of high ol Likein October 1970, he recoure o theuse of the armed forces aganst the Mohawks of Kanesaake and Kahnawake, is an unforgivable ac. Once agan, the ‘message put forh by the poliica clas of Qusbec snd fied. Other Warriors and wimmin s throw 1 the 8round amidstcries and screams before being loaded oo 2miliary buses whichakes themtoa milary base souhof Monteal. Intotal 16 wimmin, 6 childrensnd 25 menaretaken ntomiliary castody; 3 Warirsartaken intopolice custody. As well3joumnaliss s handeatfed and aken no plice cusody. Warriors mainta they e surrendering becaus his paricularfights over and Ca- nadians now know that Natives il esist. In Kaba. ‘wake 400 Mohawks armed with baseball bats, rock, Shields and malotov cockiils gathertoprotst hetreat- ‘ment of surendering Mobavws. Soldiers ata checkpoint nearthe Mercie bridg ar peled with rcks and botes by Mohawks. More sodies are calld i and thy are ordered o take am a the Mohawks,causng th crowd o wihdraw. ‘CanadaisthatheStte gves el e rightto choosefe o death or“is” iizens. The recourse 0 the sy has brutally unmasked the tre faceof staistviolnce snd the esponsibility whichhe poliicians e guilyof. In thiscontext of*War Measres”, ke always, i'sdemac. ray, libery,solidaity and josice whichlos the mot, A Series Of Insane Acts During the Nativeciss, miliary inerveation was Iaunched following a series of insane acts. 1. The obstinaton of a minoriy of whies 1 want o cnlasge aall coss a golf course onto ancssral Mobawk emiory. 2.The filedaiackof 1200 agentsof he S.Q.0n uly 11, 1990, 3. Labeling the Mohawk Warrirs “a gang of crmi- e, 4. he refusal 10 recognizethe historic rights,eritoral. and naional, of Native peoples. 5. Relegaing he 1t Naions o simple culural minor- ity “like al the 6.he efusal 10 s nthe rapid raicalzation of Native mllancy amajorciss notoly in Quebec nd Canads, but everywhere inthe America 7. Therefusal o recognize the exasperstion of the poor e socia grovp. 8. Finally, th recours 1o thearmed forcss 1o compen- sate for he lack of histrica education and incompe- tenceof policians. Allofhis can's help but ecallthe events of Octo- ber 1970. Tweniy years ago, the powers tht e rfused 10,like 1oday, recogaize the natonsl and poliicalrights ofthe Quebecois whomthey relegated o “culura mi- noriy like all obers" In 1990, s Native paoples tht the Stat ntends 10 “put in ther place”. unforumtely ‘withmyopic supportof one 100 many Quebecoi. A Long Struggle Panlel 1 the inde- pendist and revolutionary struggles against Europesn Americans, which devel oped from Quebec o Ni nagus, from Acadia 1o Pueno Rico, Native lber. tion siruggles enew them. selves today with a long hisory of uprsings against white colo- continued on the nextpage Ol Patioe. the symbol used by the FL. Solidarity To The Mohawk Nation From the Resistance Conspiracy Case defendants ‘We sendoursliduriyt the pople of e Mohawk Nation n yoursruggle foryourlands sndsov- ereigaty. We sendourdeepest respect1othe Clanmthers chiefs, he WarriorsSociety nd ll ofthecou. rageous women, men and children who stnd fasta the barricades of Kanesatake and Kahnawake, Since the Arawak first discovered Colombus on their beach S00 years ago the Europeans' hunger for ‘tiv lnd has never daled. Turle Mouniin was carved pinto tereories; e teritories were reduced o es- ervaions;now ey want th eservtion, 0o, and ey are pushing ntiv peoples towardhe penitentiris nd gcnocid. Butsgainstihis momentumsiands you esisance whichrefusestodi: Wounded Knee, Big Motn- ain,Lubicon Lake, Akwesasne, Kanesaiake. The rsisanceof ndigenous peoples sgainst extemminaton,fr * land and communal lfe deines th struggle for ot socicty among all peopl living n he Amercss. Inthe 1990' it has come o dfine the sruggle fo survival for llof us o this lanct, ‘As white ani-imperialit poltcal pisoners incarceated for armed revoluionary slidriy with national Iiberation movemets inside and ouiside U.S. borders, we only egret that w canot behcrc with you or i the growing numberof places n North Americs where comradesar bildng. barricades 0 stopthe routine workings of whie supremacy and gecd. Butalong withthe other 150 polcal prisoners and prisoners o w n the U, our spiis sosr withyour. From these heighis above the prison walls, above he mllay bockade of Kanesatake wecan s & futar for al ourchildren based n self-determination, mutua respect and he tendemmessof human solidariy. LAND AND SOVEREIGNTY FOR AL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES! FRE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS ANDP.O.W.'S! . INTHE Mailyn Buck Susan Rosenberg Laura Whitshor Al Berkman Linds Evans Tim Blunk Tear Down The Walls! We received this leter from a growp of Native prisonrs, detailig ther siruggle againsi prison au- thordes. Notiv peoples represent a disproportonate amount ofth prison poplation in Canada when you ‘compare thirimprisonment ate orestf the Canadlan population There s an ngoin sruggle by imprisoned. Natives for thei right praciic raditional andspiri ual custons. This lte represerts only part of his siruggl that is cccuring in prisons across Canad. They also sen a siaiement of solidriy 1o the Mobawk peopl which we do not have the space fo reprit hre. Grestings We, the Sacred Circle Sociey,represnting the Native brothers i the AdantcInstitaton, Renous, New Brunswick, are sceking your assistancs in & bule agains the federal govermment, panicularly the Correc- tional Services of Canads, Specificaly, we require the asssance o our EL- ers,Leaders, Warfors andfiends, o wina b against. forces which are inheremly apposed to our radiions and cusoms. “To win ur siuggle, we rgently require unity;we. neediobeunited likethe carthandusee. (VeslJstas e wers rooted s one against the Meech Lake Accord) We willnow tllyou why we ae inbatle gainst ur Keepers, the Corrctonal Srviceof Canada: Unanimously it has been decided to sop ll ks ‘withourKeepers a Alati nstition. Andbecauseve. arefed up with thei incessantdemonsration of dise spet for ourspiriuality and, in general, oo dovwn earth way o e The disespect s unscesptabe o the lesderhip and members of our Scared Circle Society. And in seeking your support, the fllowing is n outlne de- seipion of encountes with our Keeper ‘Visunderlings the Warden b communicaied o our Societ that he would dissolve is lesdersip and forbid council meeting, i we continued o bl pol calissuesrespectin theconcemnofnativ brothers. This s, of coure, nftely more than st disrespect I in essence a st seious threa which must be taken st ouly, ‘Moreover, our Keepers, deliberaely spproved an nmmate-family socalon the very dtethat it s know nadvance a Pow-wow wastotake place. This st could have reatedracial tension,ifour Society hd no ecog- nized th scheme of things. Hence,discreion being the partof valor,the Pow.wow was cunceled. I was also communicated 0 our Societytht we couldnot engage legal cousel. Addiionally respecting, sprual eremoniesper s, he Corectional Seviceof ‘Canad, Naional Headguarters, ell s tht the Warden s the s say on whetherorno wear he recipints of oo inmte necds, Needless 10 say we are grealy disadvantaged, ence this doubles the need of your assistance. Even s leter willbolster ourdeerminsion o overcome whits ntamount 1o the anniilation of ur spi. In near concluson, please accept our harks for draning the Mecch Lake Accord. And we hope thatour support was communicated 1o the free workd of our an- cestos by the wind. And who but the lkss of our keepers, would not be proud of our brother, Elijah Harper. Thank you for hesring our words from th hesrt beatof our Scared Circle Socity: et CuayHone, aning Wil To contact the Seared Circe Socity writ: Chief Lary “Running Wild” Calson P.0.Box 2 Renous, New Brunswick BOCIXO Canada RESISTANCE PIC AL POGOS POUTEN PRSONES O WA SPIRIT OF TOTAL Twenty Years Aper October...continued nizers who, doring the conquest, stspped American I dian peoples of theirand and dignity. A history which givenall evidence, s far from over: “The most recent events at Kanesatake and Kakoa wake have foribly reminded us that the strctue of in graned inegualiy in Quebec and Canads is also Tounded on racialand naional discrimintion. Racism and apurheid ae ot imited o South Aficaand Iral They have xisted beresince the arival o th st whitc Europeans. Many weresurpised by the virulent racism. unleashed againstthe Mohawk people. This xplosion ofracis, fed a5 much by nationalist and fedealis - ments, shows that Qusbec sosety i ot shelisred from these fratiidalforms of hatsed, which have ofen lesd 1o he worst social and poliical deadlocks, “The Native clims focused on the recognizing of and and naional rights,he ree sage and revaloriza- ticn of native languages, and for equitabe compensa. tion for the ecological disasters caused 10 their lands, “These caims have opencd everywher i the Amercas a new politcal space where national, ecological and class srugglescan be ariculated. T his context, i extremely imporunt tht pro- grssive forcesalignthemselves andextend soldaritylo the Nasive movement. Firstof all because thefoure of Quebec can't b rdefined without the paricipaton . the agrecment of the Firs Nations. Secondly, because the qualiy ofsocial eltons in Quebec, ke cscwhere in Americs, rests on ur ability o stabiih veiabl e latonsof equaliy solidarty and ficadship with Naive peoples. There will b o “free Qusbec” without theliberaton of Naive poples,snd conseguenty, p1the whie popaation,always prisoner of s old praciceof spartheid Coinciding with the 20h anaiversiry ofthe WarMeasures Actof 1970, themily taryntervenion against Ntivs o Kane- saake and Kabnawake invies us 10 8 debatecn our ovcollecivefrursandon the sociey we intend o pas 1o future gen- Communiques... TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS (On Thursday, Septembes 28, 1990, he Rotickan- nenkeieh, vomen, children and tei slis who have ‘managed he herole stand-off at the Treatment Center will nilaerally erminsie hosiliis. Afes severalatempis at uying 0 find a peaceful anderetive soluiontothe situstion wehavell realized s weare dalig with anessnilly Nesnderthal s e o the part o the Quebee and Canadian govern. Al Naivepeoples in Canada ned o take note of e clearsstements tha our people’sheroc stand has evoked from Canada and Qucbec. On September 25, 1990, Prime Minister Malroney declred . Native self- overment does ot now and camno ever mean sover. cignindependenc: Thissement is declaraion of Canada’s inent 1oKeep Natveratons,peapls and hei teritoris in'a perpetal saeofclorialiem nd dominaton. Tis po- siion leaves sl with but one course of action - the libraton of ournations and peoples. “The siege a he Treamen Cener s been only one batle n the long stuggle tht lesbefore llofus. Ratherthana defetithas been victory on many frorts. Firs, we have the vitory of the ity of Native poople cross this vas lnd. From cosst to const our peoples have been insired by the heroic sand st the Trestment Center and have been moved to scton in support of ou defenders of the ation. Secondly, we have moved th intemationalcom- ‘munity 1o ecogaizs the hypocrisy of Canada snd i's image as 2 defenderof democracy nd minory rights. They have been a a “setler state” ot unlke Souts Affica n i’ represson of ndigenous rights and peoples. Our peoplear rely choosing 1o leave the batle: eld of e Treament Centerin orderto b ree to wage the on-goingstuggle cn other frois. We sk llaher Native nstons nd peoples tojoin s declring tomorrow a5 a da of Inemational Natve Solidartysnd Celebrtion, e ssk youto rganizepos tive, affiming activiies 10 celebrate the end of this phase and th begining of the nex. ‘We callupon your prayersthooghost onight snd tomorrowtopray forthesaety o our people. Wecallon You 1 organize pow-wows, parades, demonsirations, whatever you fel is appropriate tomark his hisorical tuming poin for the Ntive Ssuggle for Libeaton. “Tns i thebeginning,notheend. Now, more than ver, wenead o reaffim our ity andourcommitment 10 continueto move forward o the dsy whea oursations regain their rightfl places in the worldcommaniy. ‘The Haudenosaunce Crsis Commitiee FROM THE PEOPLE AT THE TREAT- MENT CENTRE AT KANEHSATAKE SEPTEMBER 26,1990 TheMohawk people andibeirallesare leaving the Treatmens Center today o go home nd o consinethe. siuggle for the land. “Ths trgle has brought the suesofthe land o heatentionof the Canadian public nd e world, NOW. itistimetotake it o the poltcallevel, we ave ried 1o dothatfor th st two months through negoisions bat the govemments have not had the same mandute. Prime Minstr Brian Muloney has ssed n Par- Tiament before the Country and the word hathe and is Bovemmentare willng o dealwith the long ermaissues of and and land righs that the Mohawk people have been secking 1 deal with snce this strggle sand n eary march Weare leaving o1el he workthe el soryof the govemmentsof Quebecand Canadano wllng onego- tite a fair nd just dea, no the story that has been porrayed by boththose governmets and the media. ‘We are going home 1o continae work within our ‘own naion, the Confederacy, othe Indisn Nations, ‘Canada,the ntemations level nd the world. Noone, specially the govemment of Quebes and Canada can ake away the vitory ha s been won by thepeople atth rcatmen cener &t Kancsaiake,we. have made major stps forward in brnging the land rghtsssues o the workd aeation, never sgain will he government of Quche nd Canada be abie o st th. Indisn people of Canada as & mere thom i the side of this coontcy. The Indian peopl of his counry mast b weaed with the rospect and dignity that we 35 soverign nations. that have never been de- feted dserve. Since the atack on ourpeople uly 11,1990 we have hld off the Surete de Quebec, the Canadian Amy, the Quebes govermment and the Camdian_govern- g men. We have slways negoiised n good faith and wehave been lied o nd deied basic funds. menual human_ righs, The Intemational Fed. cotionof Human Righs has winessedll e vio- latons that have been commitied against s by theSurtede Quebec, the Cansdian Amy, the Quebec govemment and the Cansdin govern Warrior Society The American ndian Movemens sos iself a5 a WarriorSociety for ndisn people. Thereare vai- ous conceps of # wario society. To White people, he warsioris t armed forces. ' th guy who goes out there and fights and kil for his people: paid solies. But Indian people have never had hired Killers. Wartior Socity 10 them means the men and ‘womenof the nation who have dedicated hemselves 1o give everything that thy have o the people. A ‘wario shouldbe the fis one 1o g hungry and the lastone o cat. Heshoold b the irstone ogive away bis moccasinsand he lascne o gt new ones, That iypeoffecling among Indian peopl s what a War- vior Sociey i ll bou. He i ready 1o defend his family ntime of war - 1o hold offany cnemy - and bo perfctly willng to sacrifce imsel o the good of bis nation and his people, and tha's what we see ouselvs 1, what we deslsically try o be. That's: ot saying that we ar all completly elfess or any. ind ofsins,but we ry,with he spiiual diretion of ut holy men, 1o get ourselves 10 the point where we don'have the avarice and greed that s o much apartof whit soccty i his lan. We beleve that the powes ofthis iverse is held withinour peace pipe. s apipe o pesce, apipe tha a1 all costs wies 10 guide us in avolding sny. deaths by our ownhands,orany violenceanthe part of the American ndian Movement,and f anyone will check back nto th histoy of the American Indisn Movement; though we (ake a very sirong. siand orourpeople, we've neverkilld nyone. We. have neverhad violence unoss violence was perpe- raed against us. The ral violeace in America s commited by the govermment sgainst our peopl. “The sl violence i the fcthat on' reservation our ‘women retaken and raped n he bac st of ars. Ourjobis toregainour humanity andour pi- walty s tonce was. Ourjob so fight for freedom agaast oppresson. Our job s o fight for land to sand on; Lnd, a part of oar Mother Eart which il e ourphysicl and spirual bse. We s frodom fightrs By Art Solomon, lder and Warrior Member of the Leonard Pelier Defense Commitice We came here o defendthe Haudenosaunee posi- tion1o defend he land, we have committed nocrimes n defending ourland. We areleaving herewith headsheld high withpride and dignity in having dfended the land and the Haudenosaunee posion. We cannot acospt (Canada’sprogram of sel-government s weare sleady. asovereign ntion. We have commited o crimes and if the govermmeats o Canada snd Quebes chooseto proc- ess us criminals within tei lows we are POLITICAL, PRISONERS, NOT CRIMINALS. consinued from thefront page Fed their tacics of prychologial wafare. Lrge lood- lights were ereciedand focussed n the Mok stro. hold and helicoptes,cquipped with search lghts were flown over a low levels. Access 1o presripion drge was co.Before long, the army cut Mohawk phone snd faxlinesand jammed shor wave radio communicaton, demanding unconditional surender. i was nthis simosphersof hostile agaresion ha ‘Mobawks, il defan, decided 0 cesse hosilites snd 1o ke thei struggle o 8 diffeent eve, Despie whatsome may see s amilary victory by he government, the sundoff has been victorious on many frots, the most obvious being, halting the de- truction of Mohawk land fo the expansion of golf ‘ours. On another leve i has brought ity ad te- newed energy to Natve stugale across the county. This has been demonsiatd n th acionscaried outin soldarity by Natives across e coninent. Almastallof these actions have been scompanied by demands of their own and have been characierized by an incressed wead in miliancy. Thiooghou the couniry natves erscied il and road blockades and, n oe spectaclar chow o solidaiy, Chippewa ntives downed 5 clct