The Oka Crisis

The Oka Crisis: Understanding the Historical Context

The authors of this book identify the need to have a documented history of one of the most important instances of resistance by a society. The book is published in honour of the special event that is perceived as different from any others that happened within the country. The conflicts were mainly about the land that was being taken away from the local community to be utilized for development. Although the problems escalated to the level of a crisis, it is important to note that they represented century old challenges within the region regarding land. This essay argues that it is essential for authorities to gain a profound understanding of the historical context of any conflict to ensure that the underlying issues are addressed.

The Cultural Perceptions and Reasons for Resistance

The cultural perceptions of people involved in any crisis remain different, and they always impact on the decision made by those people. One of the critical approaches to addressing the issue would have to seek to understand the fundamental reasons for the resistance, which appeared to be driven by the cultural beliefs of the people. The conflict had been brewing over many years regarding a land that the native community had always held dear. The cultural values of the natives hold that they need to avoid interfering with the affairs of other people (Simpson and Ladner 5). Through this cultural nature of the natives, they were able to refrain for centuries from undertaking mass action as they did in the Oka Crisis. Had the government understood this, they would have initiated negotiations with the natives to prevent escalation of the crisis.

The Importance of Post-Conflict Assessment

Although solutions might be reached in any conflict like was the case in the Oka crisis, there is a need to undertake a follow up of the actions to ascertain the achievement of the intended goals. While solutions might have been provided and the crisis ended, there are perceptions that the local people have regarding how the process was undertaken. The social context of the local community is an essential element that can aid in understanding the implications of the decisions made. While the issues might be perceived as having been settled, the local communities believe that the golf courses infringe their territories, souls, and minds (Simpson and Ladner 235). The communities have not been entirely satisfied with the solution reached.

Involving Local Communities in Solution Development

Understanding the conflicts in the perspective of the local communities would enable the involved parties to ensure participation of the native people in the solution development. The locals must not be allowed to feel that the decision is being imposed on them but instead should perceive themselves as part of the solution. This would be critical in ensuring increased acceptance of the solution by the local community. The native communities continue to resist attempts by the government to control the resources which they believe to be their own, albeit in different ways (Simpson and Ladner 241). The natives might have gained knowledge of different approaches to use in resisting attempts by the government to control their land. Although the crisis ended over two decades ago, the resistance still continues, and this is an indication of lack of satisfaction by the natives.

Lessons on Crisis Management

The assessment of the Oka crisis provides some critical lessons about the process of crisis management. The end of a crisis period does not always mean that the problems that had caused it have fully been dealt with. There is a need to ensure that solutions are reached through active involvement of all the parties within the conflict as a way of reducing resistance.

Works Cited

Simpson, Leanne, and Kiera L. Ladner. This Is an Honour Song: Twenty Years since the Blockades. Winnipeg: Arbeiter Ring Publishing, 2010. Print.