Latest Oka standoff ends in tense peace

A standoff in Quebec between members of the Kanesatake Mohawk community and a real-estate developer has ended -- at least for the time being--with provincial police escorting the developer from the disputed land.

About 100 Mohawks had gathered yesterday at the site known as The Pines, where the Oka crisis took place 20 years ago, to stop Normand Ducharme, head of Norfolk Financial, from surveying the land with a forestry engineer, with a view to preparing it for development.

Mr. Ducharme has said he wants to build luxury homes on land the Mohawks claim they own. While most Kanesatake residents were dressed in regular clothing, a few wore masks and camouflage, and were heard warning Mr. Ducharme to leave immediately.

Kanesatake Grand Chief Sohenrise Paul Nicholas accused the developer of orchestrating a publicity stunt, and opening old wounds. He also said the Mohawk council is considering pressing charges against Mr. Ducharme.

"I'm disappointed with Norfolk for coming in and provoking what I would consider almost a riot today. This is a situation that pushes people's buttons emotionally. We're 20 years after the crisis and people still have issues with policing and land in the area. Them coming in is just a tactic to increase the value of their land. It was just a big publicity stunt."

He was also optimistic that the long-simmering land dispute over the property would soon be resolved.

"Norfolk lands will be expropriated and returned to the Mohawks of Kanesatake. What they're trying to do is add more money to the pot at our expense."

Pressed to explain how the land would be returned, Mr. Nicholas said "expropriate" might be too strong a word.

"There's a plan right now to revert the land back to the Mohawks. It involves the Mohawk council, the municipality and the provincial government. There is a freeze on that property but we'll be getting our land back soon enough."

The short but intense standoff lasted about 45 minutes, forcing the closure of a stretch of highway. As Mr. Ducharme left the premises, Kanesatake residents hugged each other and many left on foot or on three-wheel vehicles through the forest.

Sonya Gagnier, a Kanesatake band council member, said Mr. Ducharme should be charged by police.

"Our community has been through so much," Ms. Gagnier said. "If it was any one of us going out there on other land and doing what he did you can bet there would be charges. Thank God cooler heads prevailed."

Asked why so many Mohawks had turned up at the site, from seven-year-olds to elders, starting around 6 a.m. yesterday, she said: "From the moment you're born when you take your first breath, you are taught that you must fight as a Mohawk and you will fight until your last breath. Fighting for your rights, keeping hold of who you are for your inherited right as a Mohawk."

Norfolk bought the land in 2009, for a price the company did not disclose, but Mr. Nicholas said Mohawks have a historic right to the land. Last month, the federal government appointed retired civil servant Fred Caron to negotiate the specific land claim and to settle Canada's obligation to the Kanesatake Mohawks under historic treaties.

Last week, the town put a freeze on any development of the land, temporarily defusing the dispute. Oka had not granted Norfolk a building permit.

Oka Mayor Richard Lalonde said last week he wanted "to assure everyone: no one is interested in reliving the events of 1990," a 78-day armed standoff that cost the life of a Surete du Quebec officer.

The dispute ended after the Canadian Forces were brought in and Kahnawake Mohawks blocked the Mercier Bridge for eight weeks.

Mr. Lalonde said he hopes to make an offer for the parcel "satisfactory to both parties."