Nitsenhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and Ross Montour attending Jay Treaty Border Alliance meetings

04/04/2022

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to inform the community that Ohén:ton Í:iente ne Ratitsénhaiehns Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and Ratsénhaienhs Ross Montour are attending Jay Treaty Border Alliance meetings in Ottawa beginning today. Among the many delegates are five Grand Chiefs from the Iroquois Caucus communities of Akwesasne, Six Nations, Kanehsatake, Tyendinaga and, of course, Kahnawà:ke. The ambitious agenda includes meetings with several individual Members of Parliament (from all parties). Tomorrow (Tuesday), the Alliance will meet with four Cabinet Ministers, including the following:

• Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
• Patty Hadju, Minister of Indigenous Services
• Marco Mendocino, Minister of Public Safety
• Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship

Additionally, a ‘Meet & Greet’ reception will take place on Wednesday evening.

“Border crossing rights and reciprocal recognition of the Jay Treaty through Article 36 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are important issues that we are addressing this week,” said Sky-Deer. “The Jay Treaty Border Alliance brings together representatives from Nations and Tribes on both sides of the border to advocate for our families and relations in order for them to not be hindered by the different policies and laws of Canada and the United States. We are seeking high-level political tables with the government to address these matters, and to have continued dialogue.”

The meetings are expected to conclude on Friday.