Oka

In March 1990 at Kanesatake 
 An absence of justice for the Mohawk people 
 Forced the hand of a peaceful community 
 To raise their fists in angry defiance

 plan for progress by the township of Oka 
 Its mayor and council approved destruction of first nation's land 
 plot hatched in secret in the 1950's 
 and the area was taken without restitution 

 barricade was raised on the roadway by the first nation's people of Kanesatake 
 To halt the construction crews who intended to destroy their sacred lands 
 For the expansion of an existing golf course reserved for the privileged 
 grotesque misuse of illegally obtained land 

 There was no due process in negotiations 
 The community's pleas were ignored 
 An order to cease and desist blocking construction 
 Was met by their unified refusal 

 The businesses and politicians of Oka 
 Cried for police intervention 
 Racists across the country protested 
 and demanded police intervention 

 so the barricade was approached and watched by officers 
 Called from surrounding areas in Quebec 
 They blocked food and supplies to the entire town 
 But the people of Kanesatake had reinforcements of their own 
 Members of a militant resistance group called the Warriors joined their cause 
 And brought weapons, trained soldiers and fierce determination 

 The town's plight inspired cooperation 
 Food was smuggled to them by the Micmac
 Solidarity with the first nations was evident across the country 
 500 protestors rallied at St.. Paul in support 
 1000 people gathered at a park near Kanesatake to bolster morale 
 At the first sign of light on July 11th 

 The signal was sent and the police advanced 
 They fired weapons and launched smoke grenades
 In a display of aggression to disband the resisters 

 4400 or more officers 
 2629 of them were troops 
 1144 military vehicles 
 Surrounded the community of Kahnasatake 

 On Sept. 1 without warning the police and military overran the barricade 
 The protestors mobilized to stop them and rioting ensued 
 Open fighting on the street with military, police and soldiers 
 Put an end to the barricade but far from ended this dispute 

 The remaining protestors retreated to a treatment center
 Eventually the last protestors would be subdued 
 The Warriors escaped under radar in planes to fight another day 
 And so the military finally withdrew 

 But still many people were arrested in the aftermath We must not forget so their justice is served too