“When I hear (Crown-Indigenous Relations) minister Marc Miller saying that reconciliation is done by giving back land, I am not happy to hear that,” said Oka mayor Pascal Quevillon during a council meeting held on Tuesday, January 18. The area in question consists of a portion of the Pines – excluding the Golf Club – as well as lots owned by residential developer Grégoire Gollin. A separate lawsuit had previously been filed by the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) requesting that the heritage site designation be removed. “Land theft and breaking a nation’s right to sovereignty are no longer being tolerated,” said Pepin. Avoiding history repeating itself is also what has been on the mind of John Harding since he watched the latest Oka council meeting unfold.

Source: The Star January 24, 2022 18:02 UTC