Kanehsatake 270 Years of Resistance

What was the film about?

This film was a continuation of the other film Acts of Defiance.  It more or less showed more scenes than the other of the violence that was experienced by the mowhawk and aboriginal people. The Mayor of Oka was trying to expand the local golf course by using Native land in New Brunswick. The Mowhawk Nation was making a stand against this action.

What time period was the film set?
 The film mainly is set in the 78 days of the  Kanehsatake barracades between the Quebec police and military. It began in July 1990 and the film was also showing scenes from 1992.

What story was the film sharing?

The film was sharing the neverending struggle for the Mowhawk people to regain their title to thier land that the government was trying to take away from them.  This is a similar film from Acts of Defiance but showed more scenes inside the camp with the women and children. This also showed more abuse the people took from the military and the Quebec police.  This film also shared the persistance of the Mowhawk people to fight for their land from the young chief years ago that learned how to read and write and how he discovered that his people were lied to and mislead by the government.  He wrote a letter to ask the people to leave the land and he was put into prison. So from then on the mowhawk people never signed any treaties because they believed the non native people were encroaching on thier land.  To this day the government still tries to take the land of the aboriginal people.

Had you heard of the incidents refered to in the film previous to watching it?

Yes i have heard  of the incidents that occured in the film mostly by the news and some clarification from my parents.  I did ask what was happening at the time and i could remember my mother telling me about the golf course that the government planned on native land.

What did you know of the incidents before watching this film?

I knew as much as the golf course that the government wanted to put there and about the horrible treatment the Aboriginals recieved by the police and the military. 

Who were the main characters in the film that stood out for you and why?

The main characters were the Aboriginal people.  I say the word aboriginal because the mowhawks recieved support especially from First Nations everywhere. The one that stood out for me especially were the Warriors. They were arrested and beaten and they still held thier ground. The women also were very brave and took thier stand in the film.  They also enduring all kinds of abuse just as the men did along with the children.  One other person was Tom Paul, he was one of the warriors and the film mentioned that he was from Eskasoni and died in 1992.

How do you feel about these incidents and the response from government and miliatary to issues raised by First Nations?

These incidents were in no way just and seemed that the government tried hard to make the aborignal people suffer more than they already have.  They went to great lengths to enforce thier power on a community of 1800.  I think the film mentioned that the government spent almost 200 million for everything that happened at Kanehsatake.  Its a big price to pay over a golf course that didnt need to be extended.  Instead of making any agreements the government would rather spread hate and destruction.

How did you feel after watching the film?

I felt emotional again after this film also because in this film there were more scenes of violence not just towards men but Elders, women and children.  The military and police showed no remorse over showing force on children.  When they talked about a 14 year old child being bayonetted just for trying to protect her 4 year old sibling, i felt disgusted that grown men with perhaps children of thier own had the heart to do that to a child.

Have First Nations' achieved any of the rights discussed during the film?

The Mowhawk Nation did achieve somethign in this film, the government now know that aboriginals are a force to be reckoned with.  They should also know that they will stand up for what they believe in and and their rights and traditions especially for their future children and grandchildren.

Overall what did you think about the film?

This film was very powerful and moving.  It made me see the terrible acts and injustices that were faced by the Aboriiginal people and they still triumphed.  Thier spirit was never broken and they kept fighting.

 

Would you recommend this film to others?  If so why?  If not, why not?

I would reccomend this film to anyone that wants to take the time to view it because it is a piece of our history and maybe the strength in the people that were shown in the films would come out also to the person that is watching.