Army Seizes Arms in Mohawk Clash

The army today displayed about 50 weapons seized from a Mohawk reserve south of Montreal during a search that provoked the most violent clash yet between troops and natives in a 2 1/2-month-old standoff over a land dispute.

Lt. Col. Greg Mitchell, battalion commander for the Canadian army, said the weapons, including shotguns, rifles and handguns as well as walkie-talkies and camouflage uniforms, were found in about 10 caches on the Kahnawake reserve.

“They were hidden away in plastic or duffel bags, under trees. The intent for their use was obviously illegal,” Mitchell said.

Police, soldiers and Mohawks at two Quebec reserves have been involved in a land dispute that began July 11 when Quebec officers stormed a barricade erected by natives around a proposed golf course they claimed was an ancient burial ground. One officer was killed in the raid at the Kanesatake reserve, south of Montreal.

The search for weapons Tuesday at Kahnawake led to the worst clash yet between soldiers and Mohawks. In the resulting riot that lasted nearly seven hours, soldiers used three rounds of tear gas to restrain the crowd of about 300 natives who tried to stop the search.

Although the natives were equipped with only rocks, clubs and sticks, they almost overpowered the soldiers. According to Mitchell, 19 soldiers required medical treatment, including one with a broken hand.