Natives call on God for peace and healing
KANEHSATAKE, QC-Unrest continues in the native community of Kanehsatake, Quebec, but Mohawk radio host and Bible translator Mavis Etienne believes in the power of prayer to bring peace and healing.
Etienne organized the Trail of Prayers, a multicultural, multi-faith prayer walk around the Mohawk community held on June 19 that attracted more than 50 people. They began by singing together, in Mohawk and English, "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace," a fitting way to begin, Etienne says, because "God often sent singers before battles."
People walked around the territory in couples, praying in French, English and Mohawk and covering four significant stations-the high school which is in danger of closing, the police station, the band office and the Pine Woods. Scriptures were read at each stop and Christian and Jewish leaders prayed for the healing of the land and the people, and for wisdom and unity.
Recent turmoil in the Mohawk community dates back to January 2004, but echoes gruesome events of the past that took place during the Oka crisis in 1990.
In January of this year, Grand Chief James Gabriel removed the local police chief from office, alleging the police chief had connections with cigarette contraband.
Gabriel appointed another head of police, although several members of the band council and local police officers do not recognize his authority.
Gabriel and his followers were chased from the community and his house was burned down in January. Since then, interim Chief of Police Ed Thompson patrolled the town of Oka and the area surrounding Kanehsatake, although dissident forces will not allow him into the Mohawk community.
The Quebec Provincial Police and the RCMP have been called in to help, but the fear of violent confrontation is preventing all parties from taking affirmative action.
The fear is not unfounded. In 1990, during a dispute over the Pine Woods-an area between Kanehsatake and the town of Oka-provincial police were brought in to break down Mohawk barricades and the violence that ensued resulted in the deadly shooting of Corporal Marcel Lemay. The hostilities ended 11 weeks later, but only after the Canadian Forces became involved.
This year, the Pines became a place of prayer, the fourth and last stop on the Trail. Participants formed a traditional greeting circle, where words are spoken to each person in a counter-clockwise fashion.
The day ended with a time of fellowship in the hall of the United Church.
Etienne says she knew God was with her project before the actual event took place. A few weeks earlier, at a commissioning service for a project facilitator of Mohawk translation work, Francine Lemay came to speak to Etienne about the upcoming Trail of Prayers.
"She told me she was the sister of Corporal Lemay who was shot and killed by Mohawks in 1990," says Etienne. "She wanted to be involved."
Lemay was among those who led in prayer for peace and healing at one of the stops along the Trail.
"It was a time to celebrate our faith in the almighty God who is the only One who can intervene in times of turmoil," says Etienne. "I really believe that only eternity will show what strongholds were torn down."
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