[IPSM] Kahnawake Mohawk stopped at us border

[Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movment - Montreal]

Making a Trip to the States?
By: Jordan Standup

On Wednesday morning, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake sent out a public
press release notifying community members who were planning on travelling
to the United States to have some specific important documents with them.

According to the press release, several Kahnawa'kehró:non who were
claiming North American Indian citizenship have been asked to provide a
document that proves that the person possesses at least 50 percent blood
quantum, were not allowed to enter the U.S. until they were able to
provide these specific documents.

For Christmas vacation, Lorna Delaronde and boyfriend Shawn Kirby decided
to take a trip to Florida, but were denied access to the States when they
were stopped at the Lester B. Pearson Airport in Toronto. "I gave them my
birth certificate, my band card and a temporary letter that I had from the
Band Council, and I still wasn't allowed in," said Delaronde.

Delaronde says that she and Kirby had been stopped when a Customs officer
asked Kirby why he was going to Florida. Kirby told the Customs officer he
was a Iron Worker and was planning to look for work, and take a vacation.

According to Delaronde, the Customs officer then entered Kirby's name into
the computer and found that Kirby again, asking him why he had been
crossing the border so often. Kirby once again explained that he was an
Iron Worker, who had previously worked in New York, and had to cross often
to go to work.

The Customs officer then turned his attention to Delaronde, and began to
pummel her with questions as well.

"They told us we needed a certain paper from the Council stating that we
were Native American, and had over 50 percent Aboriginal blood quantum,"
Delaronde said.

Delaronde decided to contact her sister, Iris Jacobs, and explained their
situation; she then asked Jacobs if she would be able to contact someone
from the MCK to notify them of their situation. "I wasn't sure if she was
going to be able to get a hold of anyone, because everyone was still on
vacation," said Delaronde.

As luck would have it, Jacobs was able to contact Chief Mike Bush. He
immediately contacted Alexis Shackleton of the Membership Department and
explained the situation to her. Shackleton and Bush both went to the
Council office to begin working on the case.

During that time, Shackleton and Delaronde spoke on the phone and
Delaronde was able to better explain the situation.

After plenty of work, Shackleton was able to fax the Membership letter to
the Customs officer at the Toronto airport. But, by that time, it was
already too late as the flight Delaronde and Kirby had planned to board,
had taken off some time before.

"We missed our flight, and we had to spend the night in Toronto, as we
were to board another flight the next day," said Delaronde.

"I am really grateful that Chief bush and Alexis were able to help out. I
would also like to thank Dodi Gilbert and my sister Iris for all their
help," added Delaronde.

U.U. Customs officers may ask for any, or even all of the following
documents at the border: Certificate of Indian Status (Status Card), photo
I.D., long-form birth certificate or a letter from the MCK Membership
Department stating that the bearer has at least 50 percent Aboriginal
blood.

Anyone planning to travel to the U.S. is advised to obtain the MCK
Membership letter beforehand. Any community member who does not meet the
50 percent blood quantum cannot be issued such a letter at this time.

The U.S. Immigration staff in this region rarely asks for this type of
documentation; however, this has not been the case in other areas.
Recently, U.S. Customs officers, expecially those at airports, have begun
applying the "letter of the law" when our people have attempted to cross
the border.

Currently, the MCK is working with both Canadian and American officials to
reach an agreement of creating a system that would allow for easier border
passage.

Anyone wishing to obtain more information, or, if planning on travelling
to the States would like to request a Membership letter, can contact the
MCK Membership Department at 638-0500.