EXCLUSIVE | Renewed tensions in the municipality of Oka near Kanesatake when a native, Al Harrington, orders a farmer to leave his land which does not belong to him. He has until the spring to do so, learned TVA Nouvelles.
This intervention is perceived as a threat by the president of the Jardins de Vegibec, the company targeted by the eviction notice. Pascal Lecault filed a complaint on Tuesday with the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) for intrusion because Al Harrington showed up at his home on rang Sainte-Sophie last Saturday.
Mr. Harrington, who is not Mohawk, but who lives in the territory of Kanesatake writes in his letter that Vegibec must leave his premises by the spring and that these lands are part of the ancestral territory and are therefore subject to the Great Law of the Peace, “under whose authority we claim authority to oust you. Your access to this land was decided under colonial law. This land was stolen from the Kanien’kehá:ka by French colonial officials and then illegally sold to the municipality of Oka. No number of years of occupation can justify this theft. If you do not comply with the eviction notice, community members will take all available action once morest the use and significant disruption of your entire business activity.”
The mayor of Oka deplores this threat of eviction. “We see it a bit like intimidation, unjustified threats. It is a bit deplorable to see his actions. It still creates needless tension between our two communities. We see that as misunderstanding on the part of Mr. Harrington or a form of racism towards white people who reside in the territory of Kanesatake, ”says Pascal Quevillon.
Pascal Lecault explains why he filed a complaint with the SQ. “It’s a threat to me and our business. This gentleman is having a lot of fun on social networks to denigrate our company.
Me Lecault assures that he will not leave his land. “Never! It’s out of the question,” he says firmly.
According to what TVA Nouvelles has learned, Al Harrington does not have the support of the Kanesatake band council. He would act alone or with a group.
