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Why Is The 1990s: Important In Canadian History

Decent Essays

The 1990s were important in Canadian history due to Canada’s military involvement in Rwanda, the Persian Gulf War and the Oka Crisis.

Canada’s role in Rwanda started in 1993, when the United Nations sent 2,500 peacekeepers that included 400 Canadians to Rwanda (Colyer,Cecillon,Draper,& Hogeveen,2010,pg 104). This was in an effort to stop the conflict over power between the Hutu and Tutsi people (Colyer,Cecillon,Draper,& Hogeveen,2010,pg 104). In an incident in 1994, the Tutsis were blamed by the Hutu for an airplane being shot down out of the sky. The Hutu became angry and went on a murderous rampage that started the genocide on April 6 1994. With the Tutsi forming rebel groups it was not long before it led to a full scale civil war ( Government …show more content…

The expansion was to take place on land that belonged to the Mohawk’s from the Kanesatake reserve. The Mohawk’s became angry with the government because this was a sacred burial ground for the Mohawk people (Tabitha Marshall,2014,online). When the Mohawk people began protesting, they set up barricades and began a standoff. On July 11 violence erupted when the Surete du Quebec attempted to storm the barricade (Colyer,Cecillon,Draper,& Hogeveen,2010,pg 35). In the midst of all this violence, a police officer was shot and killed. As a response to this incident, the Quebec government called in the army to help resolve the situation. In mid-August the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), along with Canadian Armed Forces were sent to Oka to settle the crisis. ON August 20, 800 members from the Royal 22 Regiment took over at the barricade for the Surete du Quebec (Tabitha Marshall,2014,online). This was an important part in Canadian history because not only does it show Canada’s military efforts, but also their involvement in world issues. With Canada helping in OKa,Quebec it also shows the involvement in domestic situations and how they were able to negotiate with the Mohawk’s from the Kanesatake reserve. After a 78-day standoff, the crisis was resolved and many protesters were detained and charged (Tabitha

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