Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples: Individual Presentation by Claude Bisonnette

This file contains an individual presentation by Claude Bisonnette, a non-Aboriginal who is a certified life insurer in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. He began working with the citizens of Kahnawake in 1987, to the surprise of his co-workers. Bisonnette had to assure them that "(I)f I was having problems with the Mohawks I simply wouldn't go back there." He tells the Commissioners that he is often shocked at the negative attention minor incidents in Kahnawake are given and says the media doesn't help. He attempted to continue his business during the Oka Crisis because "(I)f a skirmish broke out and a client died from a bullet or some other weapon, the company could refuse to pay the death benefit if the policy was not in force." The Oka Crisis put an end to his business dealings with the Mohawks for several years due to government policy and has only recently begun working with Kahnawake citizens again. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.