Anna Lazowski // One photograph shaped how everyone saw the Oka Crisis | CBC Radio

15.1.19

One photograph shaped how everyone saw the Oka Crisis | CBC Radio: Komulainen hid her cameras under her coat and snuck in a back way, being dismissed as a local by police. She arrived just as the army started moving in.

"The major in charge was walking forward with two snipers on either side," Komulainen recalled.

"There was a military photographer walking beside him so they were not going in with guns pointed. They were walking forward slowly and the army just continued to push forward."
She said there were about 25 members of the media there and everyone on both sides was used to their constant presence. That is what allowed her to stay so close to the action.

Komulainen said though they were outgunned, the Mohawk protesters decided to approach soldiers individually which is when the face-to-face between soldier Patrick Cloutier and protester Brad Larocque happened.