NATIONAL CONGRESS Of The AMERICAN INDIAN (NCAI):

[ThunderWolfe]

NATIVE AMERICAN EMBASSY NEWS SERVICE (NAENS):
July 30, 2009 1:13 AM DST


NATIONAL CONGRESS Of The AMERICAN INDIAN:

06/16/2009

Tribal Leaders from U.S./Canada Call for DHS to Delay Implementation of New DHS Border Crossing Regulations Continued Dialogue and Cooperation with Federal Government is Stressed



NIAGARA FALLS, NY-June 15, 2009- National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Joe A. Garcia was joined by tribal leaders from the U.S. and Canada U.S./Canadian border, to ask the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for more time to comply with enhanced tribal identification requirements that went into effect June 1.

Speaking at a gathering of tribal and First Nations leaders and members at the Rainbow Bridge International border crossing at Niagara Falls, New York, Garcia said, "The new requirements limit tribal member's ability to use their tribal IDs to cross the borders. It's simply not feasible, nor affordable, for tribes to put these requirements in place in the allotted time. Of the 563 tribes in the U.S., only 2 have been able to afford and implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requirements for tribal ID cards."



Garcia was joined by Seneca Nation of Indians President Barry E. Snyder, Sr., St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Chief James Ransom and Assembly of First Nations Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse.



"Working with other border situated Indian Nations and NCAI, we were successful in getting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to recognize border crossing credentials issued by the sovereign nations, including the Seneca Nation," said Snyder. "This is a great victory for Indian Country, and I am glad to have been a part of it."



Snyder said the ultimate goal of his people is to work cooperatively with the U.S. government on border protection issues and stressed that keeping the Niagara Falls area safe is an important objective of his nation.



Chief Ransom also called for continued nation to nation cooperation.
 


"The DHS has prepared a draft tribal consultation policy that, once fully implemented, will foster better relationships between tribes and DHS," said Chief Ransom. "This policy will create a framework for cooperative efforts as tribes and DHS work to ensure the safety and security of all of our peoples."



Chief Toulouse said the AFN applauds DHS for approving the business plan associated with the new Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) and for working with First Nations in Canada who are developing their own Indigenous identity cards.



"This cooperation is important because in some instances, such as at the Mohawk Nation territory at Akwesasne, the Mohawk people must pass through the Canada/U.S. border in order to reach their places of employment, to interact with their families and to receive such basic services such as healthcare and education," said Toulouse. "Crossing the Canada/U.S. border is a necessity of life for us."

Several tribal leaders led a solidarity walk across the border to Canada and back to the United States, using their tribal identification cards for entry and re-entry.



"It is important for the United States and Canadian governments to be respectful of the fact that we are sovereign nations with inherent Indigenous border crossing rights that pre-date the formation of either country," said Garcia.