Oka residents teargassed during police assault

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Oka resident Georges Peerillard will long remember the police assault on the Kanesatake blockade of Highway 344.

He saw everything from his vantage point at the bottom of the hill, where he lives.

But he paid a price for seeing Canadian history in the making.

Perillard said he, another Oka man and a police officer were accidentally teargassed during the assault, which came at quarter to five in the morning.

It was cal "but when they pitched it, the wind started just a little bit, enough for the gas to come into the village."

He told police he had problems with his mouth, but they said it should only create problems for his eyes.

But Perillard said the tear gas damaged his voice and if not corrected within a month it will be permanent.

"It's like a burn inside."

But Perillare, 72, who was born at Oka as was his grandfather before him said he was no intention of suing.