MONTREAL — The grand chief of the Mohawks of Kanesatake says he has reached a deal with Quebec to partially reopen a provincial park near the community.
Serge Simon says in a statement that a blockade erected last week to keep people away from Oka provincial park will be lifted.
The chief says that, following a meeting with Quebec officials on Monday, the intention is to lift the blockade on Wednesday once the Mohawks receive a copy of the contingency plan.
According to Simon's statement, the agreement will see only one access road to the park open, restricting access to those living in the Lower Laurentians and keeping the number of people at any time to half of maximum capacity.
Members of the First Nation blocked access to Oka last Wednesday as other provincial parks partially opened.
Simon had said he had concerns about visitors to the popular park spreading COVID-19 to his community.
Both the federal and provincial governments last week urged dialogue to resolve the issue.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2020
The Canadian Press
