Oka mayor apologizes to Kanesatake grand chief for inflammatory comments

The mayor of Oka has apologized to the grand chief of Kanesatakefor comments he made earlier this summer that led to tensions between the two communities.

The pair reconciled at the First Nations-Municipalities Summit underwayin Wendake, near Quebec City.

KanesatakeGrand Chief Serge Simon said Oka Mayor Pascal Quevillon "showed a lot of courage, taking the first step."

In July, Quevillonsaid he was concerned that Oka would become "surrounded" by Kanesatake territory if a plan for a local developer to give 60 hectares of land to the Kanesatake Mohawks and sell them another 150 hectares through a federal program were to come to fruition.

He also saidMohawk land is plagued by illegal dumps, cannabis and cigarette merchantsand contaminated water.

Simon has been demanding an apology, and Quevillon refused to give one he once said he would not apologize "for telling the truth."

But on Friday, the two men stood together and announced they have made up.

"It's time to turn the page, to look forward and work together for our two communities, for the good of our communities, that's why we were elected and that is what we are going to do," Quevillon said.

"We were here for reconciliation and that's what happened."

In a tweet, Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Sylvie D'Amourscommended Quevillon's apology. Both the federal and provincial governments tried to helpend the impasse.

Developer Grgoire Gollin said he wants to transfer some of the land, known as The Pines, in the spirit of reconciliation, through a federal ecological gifts program.

The land is part of the same contentious undeveloped property that became the focus of international attention 29 years ago, when a 78-day armed standoff was sparked by the town of Oka's plan to expand its municipal golf course.