The Oka Crisis Timeline

1. March 8 1989 The golf club announces the development of nine more holes at a cost of $1 350 000 and should get under way in a few weeks.
2. April 1st 300 Mohawks, and other non native who oppose the expansion march in the village of Oka as part of a peaceful demonstration.
3. April 5th, the land claims over the whole territory of the old Seigneurie is reaffirmed by means of a formal notice concerning "the illegal occupation of the land". submitted by the Mohawks of Kanesatake
4. April 27th the Federal government, the Oka municipality, and the Mohawk council of Kanesatake held a meeting during which the federal government announces a land purchase program. The big news come from the fact that the golf course expansion is clearly identified as part of the land to be acquired.
5. June 7th The Ministère de l'environment du Québec warns the municipality of Oka that any works aimed at modifying the ecological nature of the communs should be authorized beforehand by the minister.
6. During that time another project arose. A marina was to be built, again on land to be purchased by the government in relevance to the land claims.
7. July 28th: The Environment minister order the municipal corporation of Oka to stop all works at the places mentioned. The warning was ignored.
8. August 1st the works officially begin, and the first tree is felled symbolically despite the opposition from the environment minister, and the Kanesatake Mohawks.
9. August 21st: Negotiations begin between Chief Clarence Simon, Oka-vilage Mayor Jean Ouellette, and Oka parish mayor Yvan Patry. It is resolved that the municipality of Oka Village will postpone the project to help resolve the difficulties.
10. During this time, A bingo hall was opened in Kanesatake.
11. On September 29th, bingo hall being deemed illegal, the Sureté du Québec forcefully intervened to put an end to the activities.
12. November 8th a resolution proposed by chief Clarence Simon is unanimously adopted by the chiefs of Assembly of first Nations of Québec and Labrador, calling for the governments of Canada and Québec to launch an independent inquiry on relations certain communities and the police.
13 .January 26 Chief Clarence Simon is dismissed by the Clan Mother, who choose George Martin to replace him.
14. March 11th: Mohawks set up a road block at the chemin du mille as the municipality lifts the moratorium on the golf club expansion project. A petition is also put forward with 1276 signatures against the expansion project.
15. April 26th The superior court grants an injunction to the Municipality of Oka forbidding Mohawk demonstrators to hold up any traffic and to block access to chemin du Mille.
16. May 2: The Sureté du Québec is preparing to intervene to remove the barricades. The minister of Native affairs, Mr. John Ciaccia sends an emissary to stop the police intervention. The police operation is called off.
17. May 3: Thirty citizens from Oka village create a group of "vigilante" during a town hall meeting. The group is given the mission to remove" by force if necessary" the occupants of the barricades.
18. May 7: Mayor Jean Ouellette asks the Sureté du Québec to put an end to the occupation of chemin du mille. According to the mayor, several sources have confirmed the presence of weapons, trenches and caches "which obviously endanger the public security of the citizens of Oka and elsewhere"
19. May 8: Minister John Ciaccia and Mayor Jean Ouellette agree that in order to help discussions resume in a peaceful climate, it would be best to postpone the golf club project indefinitely provided the Mohawks lift their blockade. 6 days later the Town Council of Oka Village refused to endorse the Mayor's commitment.
20. June 4: The municipality of Oka is willing to declare another moratorium for three months, provided the barricades are taken down, end in the case of a refusal an injunction will be requested. The Mohawks for their part are willing to lift the barricades, if the moratorium is declared for an indefinite period of time.