On January 20th, 2006, a Quebec judge sentenced seven Mohawk men from the reserve of Kanehsatake to prison terms ranging from three to 15 months in prison on charges of rioting and forcible confinement. Three other Mohawk men were fined up to $1,000 on charges of unlawful assembly. The charges stemmed from a rebellion at Kanehsatake on January 12th of 2004, when traditional men and women surrounded the reserve's police station, trapping an invasion force of 67 heavily-armed Native cops inside the building until they were escorted off the reserve late the next night. The invasion was directed by then Grand Chief James Gabriel and was connected to his negotiating-away of Mohawk land for corporate developments such as a proposed niobium mine (niobium is used in the weapons industry).
Mohawks in the court room disrupted the sentencing statement by shouting "Racist!" and insulting the judge. Mohawk women also unfurled the Mohawk warrior flag inside the court.
The imprisoned Mohawk men are appealing their sentences and seeking bail.
The Prison Sentences:
Gordon Lazore, Gary Gabriel: 15 months
Robert Gabriel and Bradley Gabriel: 12 months
Hubert Nelson: Six months
Alistair Nicolas: Four months
Terry Yaxley: Three months
Update:
February 2006
Six of the seven who were sentenced to jail time are now out on conditions while the case goes to appeal, but Gary Gabriel remains in prison because he was in breach of previously imposed court conditions. In addition to the defendants' appeal, a crown prosecutor in Montreal is also appealing the verdicts claiming the judge should never have accepted the "self-defense" arguments made by the defense lawyers, and that without it, all 24 defendants should have been found guilty. A demonstration in solidarity with Gary is to take place in Oka and Kanehsatake on February 11th.