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
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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
However the Mohawk people felt very betrayed because the Mercier Bridge was one of the only things they had as a bargaining tool for their land and as soon as everything was up and running the government ended any further negotiations. After the day in September when the Mohawk people were hosed down with water; the Mohawk people set all their guns and weapons on fire during a ceremonial burning of tobacco and returning to the reserve, when they were arrested. The Oka Crisis ended up lasting for seventy-eight days with gunfire occurring only a couple of times. Mayor of Oka eventually stopped the expansion of the golf course. The Oka Crisis made Canada start a process of developing a First Nations Policing Policy, so we can attempt to avoid or defuse similar events in the future. However, there were many theories behind how the Kanehsatake was dealing with a lot of crimes like drug and gang related so that was why the SQ did not want to patrol Kanehsatake in the first place. In 1994, the Chief at the time, Jerry Peltier was instructed by the Quebec Native affairs minister to investigate all the individuals who terrorized the town of Oka. Then in the upcoming years Kanehsatake was ruled by a pro-assimilation band council, which had its own police force starting in 1997. However, some misshapen happened and in 1999 the police force ended up shooting and paralyzing an individual who was involved in the crisis. They even tried to pursue self-government with Canada and Quebec. Then again in 2004 the Kanehsatake were in the headline of the news when they decided to barricade sixty police officers at the police station and again in the headlines it was blamed for crimes such as drugs and gang violence. In 1991 there were elections held and Oka Mayor Jean Ouellette was reelected; he was asked about Oka Crisis and replied back with not having regrets and “if I had to do it all over again, I would” (221,
The War of 1812 was an influential event, which marks its place in Canadian history. The heroic efforts of Canadians helped to define who they are, determine what side of the border they live on, and the flag they salute today. Therefore, The War of 1812 is the most significant historical event that lay down the foundation for a nation. It united segregated colonies, secured borders with a strong militia, and achieved the fundamental objective of defense.
This conflict was a result of many previous encounters built up to it between Canada and the indigenous community. It seems to be that Canada can never resolve their issues with Indigenous people. This history behind started way back in 1717 when the governor of New France granted this land to them. Originally they were granted nine square miles do what they wanted. However the land was supposed to be held in trust for them, however was not so trustworthy in 1868, Joseph Onasakenrat, the Chief of the Oka Mohawk people,
The 3 international events/people since WW1 that have had the most significant impact on Canada’s development are Sir Robert Borden, Women gaining the right to vote, and vimmy ridge. All of these events/people had great impact for Canada in the future.
WW1 was the most significant event that that shaped Canadian identity threw the twentieth century. Argument #1 – the first factor in shaping Canada in the twentieth century is when proved itself on the world stage in battle and in the technology field of warfare Argument #2 - by unifying as one nation through pride and success allowed Canada to shape into the peace keeping, well governed country they were in the 20th century.
A large factor that helped change and improve the national security of Canada was the October Crisis, new
Firstly, Canada provided humanitarian aid for about two years after the genocide and have contributed efforts to help re-establish Rwanda’s social institutions and infrastructure such as rural infrastructure to help improve agriculture productivity. Secondly, Canada has helped with the refugee crisis going on at the time by setting up refugee camps and allowing 40,000 refugees who were trying to escape, enter Canada. On top of that, Canada had deployed more than 200 medical, engineer and support staff to help with the recovery process and to treat the injured people. Lastly, Canada had sent about 60 military personnel to help out during the crisis and to prevent the rebels from killing the innocent people. In conclusion, by providing aid, military support and support to the refugees, Canada was successful in helping out with the Rwandan
After twenty years of disputing land claims, there are still differing views over whether the relationship between the First Nations and the government improved. Over the past several decades, indigenous people in Canada have mounted hundreds of collective action events such as marches, road blockades, and land occupations. Moreover, the Oka Crisis is a land dispute between the Mohawks and the town of Oka, that began on July eleventh nineteen ninety and it lasted until the end of September of the same year. The seventy eight day standoff between Quebec police and the Mohawks of Kanesatake garnered a tremendous amount of media attention that summer. The dispute began with the idea of installing a golf course and two condominiums on a stretch
Throughout history, the Native people of North America and the Europeans have continually had arguments and disputes over land. To this day there are still issues trying to be resolved. Twenty years ago, the beginning of one of the most violent and intense land disputes in present day Canada occurred. This event is now referred to as the Oka Crisis, named after the town Oka in Quebec. This crisis caused a confrontation involving the Quebec provincial police, the Canadian armed forces and the Mohawk people.1 The stand that the Mohawk people took in the town of Oka became a major revelation for the aboriginal people spreading awareness of aboriginal rights across Canada.
The Mohawk that were protesting to protect their traditional land, were bombarded with thousands of aggressive army members. The peaceful standoff turned violent and bloody when the army made contact with the protesters. Both sides of the standoff would be faced with conflicting loyalties because of their culture and nationalities. The Mohawk would be conflicted between defending historical property or being nationalistic to Canada. In the same view, the army would want to follow orders but could be conflicting between standing up against fellow Canadians. The source shows the tension between the contending groups, but also shows how each party felt about the matter. Their faces show the pain that is felt because of the land claim. When the government made the choice to expand a golf course onto the Oka land, even after Mohawk people formed complaints, they were cutting all ties with the Aboriginal group and creating tension within a
Also, Canada is pressures on the political field by the United States. As a superpower United States is pressuring Canada to support them. During the Cold War Americans moved the nuclear missiles into Canada, even though the majority of Canadians were against it. Canada sends forces to Afghanistan to finish the
2009). Canada is known worldwide for being peaceful, and is recognized for its peacekeeping efforts in
The Oka Crisis was a 78 Day standoff between Mohawk people and the town of Oka, Quebec . The crisis was initially caused by Mohawk protests on July 11th, 1990, when the town was planning to expand a golf course further onto First Nations land. When the golf course was originally built, it was 9 holes long and was constructed on disputed land, but the town of Oka and their mayor now wanted to expand this golf course to 18 holes to earn more profit and please other members of the community. Therefore, they would be taking over more of the land where the Mohawks had settled. The town of Oka, as well as many other provincial & federal governments and municipalities had taken away land belonging to First Nations people in the past, and the dispute over land in this small Quebec town had been occurring since 1717.
In the midst of the October Crisis Pierre Trudeau handled the time of terrorism well. In this essay one will see how Trudeau handled the crisis excellently by examining the first domestic use of the War Measures Act which led to improvements on the Act, ensuring that Quebec did not become its own independent country, and how Canada stood behind and supported Quebec and Pierre Trudeau through the acts of violence led by the FLQ.
The Rwandan president, Habyarimana and the president of Burundi, Cyprien Ntaryamira, are killed when the president’s plane is shot down near Kigali Airport, on April 6th, 1994. That night on the 6th of April, 1994, the genocide begins. Hutu people take to the streets with guns and machetes. The Hutus set up roadblocks and stopped anyone that looked Tutsi or suspected of helping Tutsi people to hide. On April 7th, 1994 the Rwandan Armed Forces set up roadblocks and went house to house to kill any Tutsis found. Thousands of people die on the first, while the U.N. just stands by and watches the slaughter go on. On April 8th, 1994 the U.N. cuts its forces from 2,500 to 250 after ten U.N. soldiers were disarmed and tortured and shot or hacked to death by machetes, trying to protect the Prime Minister. As the slaughter continues the U.N. sends 6,800 soldiers to Rwanda to protect the civilians, on May 17th, 1994, they were meant to be the peacekeepers. The slaughter continues until July 15th, 1994, in the 100 days that the genocide lasted 800,000-1,000,000 Tutsis and Hutus