MOHAWKS. Continued from Page Al natives had been camping in The Pines. At about 5 a.m. July 11 the Quebec Provincial Police arrived. The natives expected police might come to enforce another injunc- tion, but they were not expecting a force of 100 armed men. “We didn’t expect to face men with assault rifles,” she said. The police lobbed a percussion grenade into The Pines, breaking up the early morning tobacco burning ceremony. : About 15 Mohawk women, including Oke and two teenage girls, walked forward to face the police, holding their hands over their heads to show they were unarmed. In the Mohawk culture, women are the title-holders to land, so the women acted as representatives of the tribe, Oke said! The police threw tear gas at the natives. “It makes you choke. You can’t breathe. You feel as if you’re going to pass out.” There were children in the encampment behind the group of women, Oke said. Over the next 45 minutes the natives finished the sacred tobacco burning ceremony, asking the Creator for help. When the next volley of tear gas was thrown, a gust of wind blew . the gas away from a woman elder and back at the police, Oke said. SUSAN OKE “Tt wasn’t our men that shot first.” The natives ran across a dirt road and laid on the ground. Shots were coming from two directions. ‘lt makes you choke. You can’t breathe. You feel as if you’re going fo pass our’ Police blocked the road and threw in more tear gas, percussion grenades and smoke bombs. Heli- copters hovered overhead. Then Oke heard gunfire. There were snipers in the trees. Bullets went through trees and into the lacrosse box. Oke suspects Cpl. Lemay was caught in a crossfire of police bullets. When the natives fired back, they shot their rifles into the air, Oke said, adding that the bullet holes in the lacrosse box show no outgoing bullets, just incoming slugs. Someone ignited tires on the toad, adding to the smoke and confusion. The police withdrew. Oke and the other women went deeper into the woods and began cutting pillow cases into bandages. The men took a payloader, crushed the abandoned police cars and built a barricade at the top of the hill Word of the attack reached the neighboring Kahnawake reserve. Mohawks from that reserve blocked the Mercier commuter bridge late in the afternoon, in support of the Kanehsatake tribe. Police fortified their roadblock below the native blockade and police surrounded the reserve. “They literally tried to starve us out,” Oke said. “Our men were very level- headed. They only retaliated by throwing golf balls down the hill.” Even the army shot at the natives several time and some natives were beaten by the army, off-camera, Oke said. When the Mohawks surrendered 78 days later, Oke said the men destroyed their own weapons before they were arrested. “We don’t feel like criminals. We know what we did was right. It’s our land,” she said. Another of the Mohawk speak- ers noted The Pines property is owned by someone in France — and the natives have no idea how the man gained title to the site. “We are not terrorists. All we do is protect our lands, what is right- fully ours,” he said. Oke said the escalation of the hative protest into violence was entirely unexpected by the natives. “Tt could have happened to anyone. It could have happened here.” Oka Mohawks welcomed as heroes A standing ovation greeted a group of Mohawks from last sum- mer’s Oka blockade as they met with local natives Friday in the LAU,;WELNEW Tribal School. “There was a lot of courage shown in the Oka crisis. They’re real heroes to our people,” said Philip Paul when introducing the group. The group is on a cross-Canada trip to thank local native groups for support last summer and to Clive TANNER Liberal Candidate for Saanich North & The Islands Be part of the campaign team that will elect Clive Tanner to the Provincial Legislature! 656-1687 raise funds for their upcoming trial. Saanich native leaders com- 2 Seatings Choice of: SHRIMP BISQUE SPINACH SALAD Entree Choices: TURKEY DINNER SALMON WELLINGTON MEDALLIONS OF BEEF DESSERT TEA or COFFEE Except as noted above, the OAK 'N BARREL RESTAURANT = = .. will be open as usual. °a- pared the Oka situation to their own Nov. 19 to 23 blockade of a Continued on Page A15 SCL IR BRENTWOOD INN R CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH US : AT THE NEWLY RENOVATED OAK "N BARREL RESTAURANT Dec. 24 OPEN from 11 AM to 8:30 PI CHRISTMAS DAY SPECIAL MENU 4PM and 6:30 PM OR TheReview Wednesday, December 12, 1990 = CHRISTMAS SEALS FIGHT LUNG DISEASE 72 Dr. F Lo Bianco 652-1111 Sidney - North & Central Saanichf PROMPT, POLITE, PLEASANT, POSITIVE, PROFESSIONAL view Food Bank. SAANICH PENINSULA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Dinner General Meeting and Christmas Social THURSDAY, DEC. 13, 5 to 7 PM IMAGES, AIRPORT TRAVELODGE Cost: $5.00/person. Please bring a gift per person (value of $5.00) for exchange plus a food donation to Lions/Re- NO HOST BAR Members are encouraged to bring business colleagues, friends and spouses. Non-members are welcome! This is always a fun event, where we have the opportunity to wish each other the best of the season, renew friendships and have a good time. See you there. . EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY ARMY NAVY and’ AIR FORCE Veterans in Canada 9813-4th St. 656-3777 Friday 9 - 12:30 Saturday 7 - Midnight - DECEMBER 14th & 15th “BOULEVARD CRUISE” Music every Wednesday at 7 p.m. by Gabby Meat Draws Wed., Fri., & Sat. at 5 p.m. TAM ESORT RING IN THE NEW YEAR to the Piano Stylings of JOSEF KALIOSTRO NEW YEARS EVE MENU Choice of: ESCARGOTS, SEAFOOD COCKTAIL or CHICKEN LIVERS Entrees: TORNEDOS HENRY IV SALMON WELLINGTON CHICKEN CORDON BLEU 6 oz. NEW YORK & PRAWNS VIVA COD BRENTWOOD DESSERT, TEA or COFFEE NEW YEARS DAY BUFFET BRUNCH including SALMON WELLINGTON Children $7.95 Adults $13.95 RESERVATIONS 652-9515 or FAX 652-2402 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 656-3777 4 , < < 7 @ > . $29.95 $27.95 $26.95 $31.95 $26.95 HOLIDAY HOURS: 7172 Brentwood Drive ADI SCRE SID SpE COLES THE BRIG MARINE PUB CHRISTMAS EVE CLOSING AT 8:30 PM e CHRISTMAS DAY 12:00 NOON - 8 PM OTHERWISE OPEN AS USUAL NEW YEARS EVE PARTY — LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, Snacks — $5.00 Cover Charge after 9 PM Limited tickets available