Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance

In July 1990, a dispute over a proposed golf course on Kanien’kéhaka (Mohawk) lands in Oka, Quebec, sets off a historic confrontation that would capture international headlines and sear itself into Canadian consciousness. Alanis Obomsawin documents the events of The Siege of Kanehsatake over 78 days, capturing a rare perspective on an important turning point in Canadian history through 250 hours of footage featuring interviews with Indigenous leaders, including Ethel Blondin, who recounts her experiences on the front lines of the standoff with the federal and provincial governments.