- Kanesatake, Quebec
Kanehsatake is a Mohawk community on the shore of the
Lake of Two Mountains in southwesternQuebec ,Canada , nearMontreal .Its recent political history has been troubled. In
1990 , the nearby town of Oka attempted to construct an extension of a golf course onto a burial ground used by the people of Kanehsatake.Fact|date=August 2008 The Mohawks occupied the land, and when theSûreté du Québec andCanadian Forces intervened, the result was the prolonged standoff of theOka Crisis , in which one police officer was killed.Fact|date=August 2008In 2004 and 2005, disputes over the governance practices of former Chief
James Gabriel resulted in violence,Fact|date=August 2008 including the purportedarson of the chief's home and car, and his exile to Montreal.Fact|date=August 2008 ChiefsPearl Bonspille ,Steven Bonspille and John Harding opposed Gabriel, leading to a series of incidents that ended Gabriel's tenure as grand chief. Bonspille was elected grand chief onJune 26 ,2005 . In the same election, Harding and Pearl Bonspille were also deposed.Fact|date=August 2008Conflicts over policing
Harding and his fellow chiefs
Steven Bonspille andPearl Bonspille believed Gabriel's attempt to control policing and his alleged violation of the civil rights of the citizens of Kanehsatake to be extremely dangerous.Fact|date=August 2008Bonspille positioned himself to run for Grand Chief. He dis-associated himself politically and socially from Harding and his supporters. Gabriel came to see him as his main political opponent.Fact|date=August 2008
On January 12, 2004, Gabriel led an armed force of sixty-seven native "special constables" into Kanehsatake in an unsuccessful attempt to usurp the power of the Police Commission.Fact|date=August 2008 The special constables sequestered themselves in the local police station for several days until their forced evacuation.Fact|date=August 2008 Gabriel's home was subsequently burned and he was forced into exile. Gabriel planned a return to power from his exile.Fact|date=August 2008
The
Government of Canada supported Gabriel.Fact|date=August 2008 It refused to allow elections to be held on the Mohawk Territory, citing unnamed dangers.Fact|date=August 2008 It supported Gabriel's disputed claim to a continuance of his mandate.Fact|date=August 2008 It increased the policing budget, and hired the P.R firm ofCommunications Strategie to direct and support Gabriel's re-election strategy.Fact|date=August 2008A Community Watch team was organized to counter the lack of a police force. A liaison team was established with the
Sûreté du Québec (the provincial police force).Fact|date=August 2008 Political communication lines were opened up to prevent anotherOka Crisis . Hardings influence was growing as Gabriel's was becoming marginalized.Fact|date=August 2008Steven Bonspille meanwhile began building a solid base of support.Fact|date=August 2008 Gabriel's support base was virtually non-existent in the territory.Fact|date=August 2008 He relied on non-resident voters for support.Fact|date=August 2008 Bonspille took advantage of Gabriel's focus on Harding and undermined that non-resident support.Fact|date=August 2008 Elections were held in late spring of 2005, with Gabriel losing to Bonspille. Harding and Pearl Bonspille were voted out.Fact|date=August 2008
Tobacco trade
Despite all of its political problems, Kanehsatake has experienced much needed economic growth stemming from the tobacco trade. Beginning with only two fishing shacks set up over five years ago on each end of the territory, the trade has expanded, with well over thirty stores of all different shapes selling tobacco today. Initial factories organized in Akwesasne and shortly after in Kahnawake have been providing Kanehsatake with their product since the business began.With this economic boon residents have invested back into their community by developing land and creating other businesses (restaurant, clothing store, gas station). Despite purported legal problems surrounding the sale of cigarettes, it has decreased unemployment among Mohawks living in Kanehsatake and Mohawk communities elsewhere.Fact|date=August 2008
External links
* [http://www.kanesatake.com/ Kanesatake.com]
* [http://survivingcanada.resist.ca/image/tid/1 Photos]Links re Policing and governance issues of 2003-2005
* [http://kmvoice.tripod.com/scandalous.htm Chronology 2003-2005] "Kanesatake Mohawk Voice"
* [http://69.94.93.141/archives/12-18/12-18-1.htm Impasse leads to trusteeship over Kanehsatake, by Ross Montour] - The Eastern Door (Kahnawake Mohawk Community).
* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1049247953772_85// Mohawk blockade stops traffic near Kanesatake] - CTV.ca
* [http://reports.fja.gc.ca/fc/2003/pub/v4/2003fc31970.html Francis v. Mohawk Council of Kanesatake] - Judicial review of Council decision re: by-election (Federal Court of Canada)
* [http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fct/2003/2003fct531.html Ross v. Mohawk Council of Kanesatake] Judicial review of Council decision to fire Ross (Federal Court of Canada)
* [http://sympatico.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1049325857653_69?s_name= Mohawks end blockade northwest of Montreal] - Sympatico.ca
* [http://maritimes.indymedia.org/mail.php?id=7258&comments=yes Uprising in Kanesatake - media analysis] - maritimes.indymedia.org
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