As part of its response to the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Champlain College has made a commitment to integrate Indigenous cultures into its teaching and learning environment.
During a Ped Day trip to Kahnawake held on January 18 2018, staff members created a Book Club with the goal of reading about and discussing subjects of interest to Indigenous communities.
This club is open to all staff members who wish to attend! Simply grab your lunch, cup of coffee and insight about the book up for discussion and head to the sofa area in the faculty lounge at the specified time.
On this page, you will find:
Basic Call to Consciousness by 
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance by Alanis Obomsawin
Call Number: E99/M8/K36/1993/DVD
Publication Date: 1993
"A powerful feature-documentary that takes you right into the action of an age-old Indigenous struggle. The result is a portrait of the people behind the barricades, providing insight into the Mohawks' unyelding determination to protect their land."
This movie can be watched in the library using our DVD copy, or online using the following links:
This movie prompted interesting exchanges about what the participants had perceived of the Oka crisis while it was happening, and how it had been different from what was depicted in the movie.
The mechanics of media silencing were discussed. The participants reflected on the challenges of exposing the Mohawk side of the story in a situation where the army was making it difficult for journalists to film or photograph what was happening. The participants found the historical context explaining the still ongoing land issues underlying the crisis to be very pertinent.
Many elements from the film were also discussed, like the personal responsibility of the soldiers involved in the crisis, the ecological concerns of the Mohawks and the reactions of the bystanders.
