b'50 YEARSMohawk land defender and a soldier from the Canadian Army during Tensions rise between First Nations and law enforcement during the Oka Crisis. July 1, 1990. the 78-day standoff at Oka, Kanesatake, Que. July 20, 1990.(Credit: Peter Power / Toronto Star via the Toronto Public Library.) (Credit: Peter Power / Toronto Star via the Toronto Public Library.)II. The base became known as CampDebassige, the Eagle Staff carrier,with this transfer of power because Ipperwash. Without being consulted,says that it is crucial for First Nationsthe international treaties that encom-the First Nation was forced to moveto know and value their Treaty Rights:passed our land rights were signed with off their reservation within 30 days.Our ancestors made those decisionsthe British Crown. Leaders attended They were told that the land would befor the best interests of the next sevenconstitutional debates to ensure the new returned when the war was over andgenerations. The treaties between theconstitution recognized our inherent and the government had no more use forCrown and First Nations outlined ourTreaty Rights. CampIpperwash.inherent rights as sovereign nations andEven though First Nations partici-The tensions that would riseour shared responsibilities to protect thepated in the process of repatriating the regarding this ongoing land claim wouldlands, cultures and peoples. Throughoutconstitution, it was always as sovereign later develop into the Ipperwash Crisis.the early 1980s, First Nations leadersnations. At no point in our history have were concerned that these Treaty Rights When Canada broke its promise, thewere under threat. At the time, Pierrewe ever consented to become Canadian Chiefs of Ontario stood in solidarity forTrudeaus government was trying tocitizens, says Peters. The presence of our Stoney and Kettle Point First Nation,repatriate the constitutionthe transferleaders at the constitutional talks were passing a 1978 resolution demandingof authority from the British Crown toinstrumentalin Section 35 of the 1982 that the First Nations be compensatedCanadas federal and provincial govern- constitution, First Nations Aboriginal and the land immediately returned. ments. First Nations were concernedand Treaty Rights were explicitly The Leaders in Railway Maintenance and Construction Services Across CanadaREMCAN is committed to building positive, respectful, and sustainable relationships withWhere community and career come together Indigenous communities. Our focus is on promoting employment opportunities, pre-employmentwww.remcanprojects.com/careers training, and business ventures or partnerships through community engagement.COMPETITIVE REWARDING CUTTING-EDGE PAIDCOMPENSATION WORK EQUIPMENT TRAINING22l I ssue1 2025C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'