Watch Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance is a 1993 Canadian documentary film that tells the story of the Oka Crisis of 1990, a 78-day standoff between Mohawk protestors and the police and army near the small town of Oka, Quebec. The film was directed by Alanis Obomsawin, a member of the Abenaki Nation, and was produced with the participation and support of the Mohawk community of Kanehsatake.

The film begins by introducing the history of the Kanehsatake Mohawk community, which has lived on the same land for over 270 years. The community has faced a long history of colonialism and oppression, including the forced relocation of their village in the 1960s to make way for a golf course and the construction of a highway that split their territory in two. Through interviews with community members and archival footage, the film documents the Mohawks' struggles to defend their land and their culture over the years.

In the summer of 1990, tensions between the Mohawks and the neighbouring town of Oka reached a boiling point when the town announced plans to expand a golf course onto a sacred Mohawk burial ground. Mohawk protesters responded by building a barricade across the access road to the site, blocking construction equipment from entering. The situation quickly escalated, with the Quebec provincial police and the Canadian army being called in to remove the barricade and end the standoff. What followed was a tense and violent confrontation that lasted for over two months.

Obomsawin was present for much of the standoff, and the film includes footage shot by the filmmaker and her crew as well as some news footage from the time. The documentary presents an intimate and nuanced portrayal of the crisis, showing the Mohawk protesters as human beings with families and homes, rather than the violent radicals often depicted in mainstream media coverage. The film also shows the protesters as deeply committed to their cultural traditions and their connection to the land, with a deep sense of responsibility to protect it.

Throughout the film, Obomsawin intersperses interviews with community members and footage of the standoff with historical context, showing how the events of 1990 were just the latest chapter in a centuries-long struggle for Indigenous rights and sovereignty. The film highlights the role of colonialism and racism in Canada's treatment of Indigenous peoples, and argues that the Oka Crisis was a symptom of a larger systemic problem.

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance is a powerful and emotionally impactful film that offers a rare perspective on one of the defining moments in Canadian history. It captures the complexity of the crisis and the range of emotions felt by those involved, from anger and frustration to hope and resilience. The film is particularly effective in its use of music, with traditional Mohawk songs and drumming providing a powerful counterpoint to the sounds of police sirens and bulldozers.

Overall, Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance is an important and timely film, particularly in the current climate of global recognition of Indigenous rights and the need for reconciliation. It is a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking as a tool for social justice, and a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples around the world.

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance is a 1993 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.