"The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between the Mohawk nation and the town of Oka, Quebec. It resulted in one direct death, and was the first of a number of well-publicized violent conflicts between First Nations and the Canadian government in the late 20th century. The crisis developed from a dispute between the town of Oka and the Mohawk community of Kanehsatake. The Mohawk nation had been pursuing a legal land claim in defense of a burial ground and a sacred grove of pine trees near Kanesatake, which they had traditionally owned for generations. This brought them into conflict with the town of Oka, which was developing plans to expand a golf course onto the land.
July 11, 1990, the mayor asks the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) (aka Quebec Provincial Police) to intervene with the Mohawk protest, claiming that criminal activity had been practiced around the barricade. The Mohawk people, in accordance with the Constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy, asked the women, the caretakers of the land and "progenitors of the nation", whether or not the arsenal they had amassed should remain. The women of the Mohawk Nation decided that the weapons should only be used if the (SQ) fired on the barricade and to use them as defensively as possible.
A police Emergency Response Team swiftly attacked the barricade deploying tear gas canisters and flash bang grenades in an attempt to create confusion in the Mohawk ranks. It is unclear whether the police or Mohawks opened fire with gunshots first, but after a fifteen-minute bullet exchange, the police fell back, abandoning six cruisers and a bulldozer, which the Mohawks took control of. The police's own tear gas had blown back at them. During the firefight, 31-year-old SQ Corporal Marcel Lemay was shot and died a short while later.
The situation escalated as the local Mohawks were joined by natives from across Canada and the United States."
The well made documentary KANEHSATAKE: 270 Years of Resistance explains the details of this particular struggle, and also gives plenty of background with regards to the historical realities that face Mohawk communities in Canada.
Essential viewing for anyone who plans on protesting the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics!
Film starts at 7pm and will be followed by brief discussion for those who wish to take part. Bring snacks to share if you like, potlucks are fun!
Map of the Piedmont Deli (441 North Killingsworth):
 link to maps.google.com
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address: 441 N. Killingsworth, Portland OR.