The disputed land, shown here, is across from a pine stand at the heart of the 1990 Oka crisis. (CBC)The town of Oka has adopted a resolution freezing further development on a piece of land owned by a Quebec company but claimed by Mohawks in Kanesatake.
Oka's municipal council voted unanimously last weekend on a resolution to authorize a freeze on any development of the land for two years.
The resolution opens the door for Oka to acquire the land from Norfolk Financial Group, a real estate company that wants to build on it.
The council acted to keep the peace in the community, and buy time, said Oka Mayor Richard Lalonde.
"I want to reassure everyone that no one here is interested in reliving the events of 1990," said Lalonde, referring to the infamous Oka crisis sparked by plans to build a golf course on land claimed by Mohawks as a sacred burial site.
"This motion clearly demonstrates our position and our good will to ensure our security and our quality of life while keeping the peace."
Oka is willing to negotiate directly with Norfolk to buy the property, but any Mohawk claim on the land is the federal government's business, Lalonde warned.
Resolution prevents developer from 'causing trouble': Mohawks
Mohawk leaders in nearby Kanesatake welcomed the move.
"It almost prevents Norfolk from trying to develop the land," said chief Gordon Oke.
"At least it will prevent Norfolk from causing trouble in that area, because that's exactly what they're seeking."
The disputed land is across the street from the pine stand that was at the heart of the 1990 dispute, during which Mohawks barricaded roads into the community to protest the building of a golf course on the forested area.
Mohawks have long claimed the land currently owned by Norfolk as their own, and there are still long negotiations ahead, Oke added.
Those talks will be easier now that the town of Oka has passed its resolution, Lalonde said.
Norfolk is open to bids, said operations director Normand Ducharme.
"Let him [Lalonde] make me an offer for me to sell the land," he said. "If he wants to give the land back to the Mohawk community, that's his choice. But I would prefer that he gives me a certain amount of money for the piece of land so we can settle the argument once and for all."
Until that happens, Norfolk is moving ahead with its plans, despite the municipal resolution.
"We plan to go next Friday to mark the trees to cut down," Ducharme said. "Even though [Lalonde] is freezing the land, that doesn't prevent us from going and cutting some trees."
Federal government to meet with Mohawks
The federal government said it has no intention of intervening in what it described as a "private case between the band council, Norfolk and Oka."
"One reason why the government doesn't buy land in these kinds of situations is precisely because it doesn't want to encourage people to think the government should resolve private disputes," said Fred Caron, chief federal land claims negotiator for the Kanesatake Mohawks.
"If we can resolve this claim, it could provide resources to the First Nation to buy land if it wants. But we don't buy land directly."
He said Oka's resolution is sound and will help avoid a confrontation.
Tension between Mohawks and Norfolk has increased in recent months after the developer said it would start cutting down trees on the land.
Caron and Oke have a meeting planned in early August, the first time a federal land claims negotiator has met with a Mohawk representative since 2006.
The land in question is estimated to be worth $500,000.
Corrections and Clarifications
- The land claimed by the Mohawks in Kanesatake is estimated to be worth $500,000, not $5 million as reported in an earlier version of the story. Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010 10:28 a.m.
