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Outlook: 'We were going to hold our ground': Behind the lines of a Mohawk protest

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A Mohawk man makes a peace sign with both hands during the Oka Crisis

21/12/2021 GMT

'We were going to hold our ground': Behind the lines of a Mohawk protest

BBC World Service - Outlook, 'We were going to hold our ground': Behind the lines of a Mohawk protest

Tracey Deer's community were involved in a 78-day siege with the Canadian government

Film-maker Tracey Deer's indigenous community were involved in a 78 day siege with the Canadian government. Now she has made a film about it.

Tracey Deer is an award-winning director who grew up on a Mohawk reservation near Montreal, Canada. When she was 12-years-old, a nearby reservation became involved in a land dispute known as the Oka Crisis. Developers wanted to build a golf course on an indigenous burial ground, and the Mohawk organised a protest camp. Things escalated into an armed standoff, and the violence that ensued would deeply traumatise Tracey. Now she has made a film, Beans, a semi-fictional account of her experiences during the crisis. 

Il Postino: The Postman, was a hugely successful Italian film made in 1994, but behind the scenes tragedy had played out during production. The lead, Massimo Troisi was plagued by heart problems relating to a childhood illness. The film’s British director, Michael Radford, was faced with a difficult decision, to finish the film or stop, as Massimo’s health deteriorated on set. He opted to push on with the production, but Massimo didn’t quite make it. He died the day after principle filming ended. Michael went on to complete the film, wanting to make it something that Massimo would have been proud of. Michael spoke to Jo Fidgen in April 2020.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar

(Photo: A Mohawk man during the Oka Crisis. Credit: Getty Images/Christopher Morris-Corbis)

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