Post by Okwes on Sept 5, 2006 13:09:14 GMT -5
National Congress of American Indians responds to border concerns
Posted: August 28, 2006 by: Brenda Norrell
<http://www.indiancountry.com/author.cfm?id=448> / Indian Country Today
Click to Enlarge <http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413530_large.jpg>
<http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413530_large.jpg> Brenda
Norrell Indian Country -- Louis Guassac, executive director of the
Kumeyaay Border Task Force, conducted a border workshop for Pascua
Yaqui, Tohono O'odham, Pima from Gila River, Yaqui from Mexico and
others at the Department of Women's Studies at the University of
Arizona. TUCSON, Ariz. - The Bush administration recently initiated
efforts that would nullify the benefits of the Jay Treaty, which
recognizes the right of border passage to indigenous peoples at the
northern border; further, the administration planned to press for new
laws to require DNA tests to determine Indian blood, according to Louis
Guassac, executive director of the Kumeyaay Border Task Force.
''The Indian tribes said, 'No way,''' Guassac said, speaking at a border
workshop hosted by the Alianza Indigena sin Fronteras/Indigenous
Alliance Without Borders in Tucson.
Guassac said that in response to these plans of the Bush administration
and other new regulations for border-crossers, the National Congress of
American Indians has passed two resolutions. The resolutions call on the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into
government-to-government consultation with Native tribes on border
issues, including consultation on a proposed national Indigenous
Identification Card for border pass and re-pass.
''I think it could be a good thing,'' said Guassac, adding that further
consultation is needed on the proposed cards. Still, he pointed out, the
needs of southern tribes are different from those of the northern tribes
who have the benefits of the Jay Treaty for border-crossing.
Although the planned requirement of DNA tests has not reached the status
of law, the United States has established new requirements for border
passage that will affect indigenous border crossers and their Jay Treaty
rights.
NCAI said these new laws are a violation of Indian treaties, according
to resolutions passed at NCAI's mid-year session in Sault Ste. Marie,
Mich., June 18 - 21.
During NCAI's mid-year conference, ''Not Our Borders: Culture and
Commerce in the Era of Homeland Security,'' NCAI President Joe Garcia
responded to border concerns of Native leaders.
''Many border nations have been cut in half and tribal citizens reside
on both sides. Working closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security will be essential in ensuring that tribal government leaders
from Native communities near this country's borders have a voice in
current national initiatives and any legislation that may impact them in
considerable ways,'' Garcia said.
NCAI first passed resolution MIC-06-016C, requesting that the secretary
of Homeland Security consult and collaborate with tribal leaders on the
proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
The initiative comes after Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004, which mandated that the departments of
Homeland Security and State develop a plan that would require U.S.
citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport for citizenship
documentation when entering the United States.
The deadline for border crossers to obtain passports or other accepted
documents is Dec. 31, 2007.
NCAI's resolution states, ''DHS has now proposed the People Access
Security System (PASS) which incorporates biometrics and other security
features that will likely infringe of tribal government as well as
individual member rights.''
NCAI said Indian tribes were not consulted and that there was no
government-to-government consultation on these new border passage
requirements.
''DHS did not consult with Indian nations on the ramifications of the
WHTI proposal,'' Garcia said. ''This proposal will be detrimental to
tribes and in direct violation of treaty rights including hunting,
fishing and spiritual observances, harming tribal economies and
disrupting the daily life of border tribal community members.''
Further, NCAI said it means extra expense for tribal members. During the
International Indigenous Cross Border Security Summit in March 2006,
Indian tribes addressed these issues. Summit indigenous leaders
expressed grave concerns over these requirements.
However, Indian leaders from Canada and the United States expressed
support for an Indigenous Identification Card for border crossing
purposes.
In the second resolution, MIC-06-017C, NCAI made an additional request
of Homeland Security.
NCAI requested that Homeland Security, as part of its trust
responsibility, provide the technical assistance and resources for
development and distribution of an Indigenous Identification Card to
ensure convenient border entry and re-entry that safeguards privacy and
personal security, as well as national security.
NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Johnson said NCAI has worked closely
with Canada's Assembly of First Nations to address border security and
management issues of concern to indigenous peoples and that this is one
of great concern.
''Native people on both sides of the border must have adequate access to
border travel to ensure commerce to sustain economies and protect the
culture and way of life for those indigenous people who have relatives
on either side of the border,'' Johnson said.
Posted: August 28, 2006 by: Brenda Norrell
<http://www.indiancountry.com/author.cfm?id=448> / Indian Country Today
Click to Enlarge <http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413530_large.jpg>
<http://www.indiancountry.com/pix/1096413530_large.jpg> Brenda
Norrell Indian Country -- Louis Guassac, executive director of the
Kumeyaay Border Task Force, conducted a border workshop for Pascua
Yaqui, Tohono O'odham, Pima from Gila River, Yaqui from Mexico and
others at the Department of Women's Studies at the University of
Arizona. TUCSON, Ariz. - The Bush administration recently initiated
efforts that would nullify the benefits of the Jay Treaty, which
recognizes the right of border passage to indigenous peoples at the
northern border; further, the administration planned to press for new
laws to require DNA tests to determine Indian blood, according to Louis
Guassac, executive director of the Kumeyaay Border Task Force.
''The Indian tribes said, 'No way,''' Guassac said, speaking at a border
workshop hosted by the Alianza Indigena sin Fronteras/Indigenous
Alliance Without Borders in Tucson.
Guassac said that in response to these plans of the Bush administration
and other new regulations for border-crossers, the National Congress of
American Indians has passed two resolutions. The resolutions call on the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into
government-to-government consultation with Native tribes on border
issues, including consultation on a proposed national Indigenous
Identification Card for border pass and re-pass.
''I think it could be a good thing,'' said Guassac, adding that further
consultation is needed on the proposed cards. Still, he pointed out, the
needs of southern tribes are different from those of the northern tribes
who have the benefits of the Jay Treaty for border-crossing.
Although the planned requirement of DNA tests has not reached the status
of law, the United States has established new requirements for border
passage that will affect indigenous border crossers and their Jay Treaty
rights.
NCAI said these new laws are a violation of Indian treaties, according
to resolutions passed at NCAI's mid-year session in Sault Ste. Marie,
Mich., June 18 - 21.
During NCAI's mid-year conference, ''Not Our Borders: Culture and
Commerce in the Era of Homeland Security,'' NCAI President Joe Garcia
responded to border concerns of Native leaders.
''Many border nations have been cut in half and tribal citizens reside
on both sides. Working closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security will be essential in ensuring that tribal government leaders
from Native communities near this country's borders have a voice in
current national initiatives and any legislation that may impact them in
considerable ways,'' Garcia said.
NCAI first passed resolution MIC-06-016C, requesting that the secretary
of Homeland Security consult and collaborate with tribal leaders on the
proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
The initiative comes after Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004, which mandated that the departments of
Homeland Security and State develop a plan that would require U.S.
citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport for citizenship
documentation when entering the United States.
The deadline for border crossers to obtain passports or other accepted
documents is Dec. 31, 2007.
NCAI's resolution states, ''DHS has now proposed the People Access
Security System (PASS) which incorporates biometrics and other security
features that will likely infringe of tribal government as well as
individual member rights.''
NCAI said Indian tribes were not consulted and that there was no
government-to-government consultation on these new border passage
requirements.
''DHS did not consult with Indian nations on the ramifications of the
WHTI proposal,'' Garcia said. ''This proposal will be detrimental to
tribes and in direct violation of treaty rights including hunting,
fishing and spiritual observances, harming tribal economies and
disrupting the daily life of border tribal community members.''
Further, NCAI said it means extra expense for tribal members. During the
International Indigenous Cross Border Security Summit in March 2006,
Indian tribes addressed these issues. Summit indigenous leaders
expressed grave concerns over these requirements.
However, Indian leaders from Canada and the United States expressed
support for an Indigenous Identification Card for border crossing
purposes.
In the second resolution, MIC-06-017C, NCAI made an additional request
of Homeland Security.
NCAI requested that Homeland Security, as part of its trust
responsibility, provide the technical assistance and resources for
development and distribution of an Indigenous Identification Card to
ensure convenient border entry and re-entry that safeguards privacy and
personal security, as well as national security.
NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Johnson said NCAI has worked closely
with Canada's Assembly of First Nations to address border security and
management issues of concern to indigenous peoples and that this is one
of great concern.
''Native people on both sides of the border must have adequate access to
border travel to ensure commerce to sustain economies and protect the
culture and way of life for those indigenous people who have relatives
on either side of the border,'' Johnson said.