Government of Canada and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne working together to address the border-crossing issues of First Nation communities

From: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

News release

January, 23, 2019 — Akwesasne, Ontario — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to working with Indigenous peoples towards a renewed nation-to-nation relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership.

Today, Marc Miller, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations met with Grand Chief Abram Benedict and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to underline the progress being achieved through collaboration and partnership to address the border-crossing issues of First Nation communities such as Akwesasne.

On December 12, 2018 the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced a number of measures, which were informed by Akwesasne's unique experience, located at the Canada-United States border at the intersection of three provincial and state jurisdictions (Quebec, Ontario, and New York State), to address border-crossing issues. These measures include:

  • The addition of a machine-readable zone to the Secure Certificate of Indian Status – to help increase the efficiency and flow of movement across the border for registered Indians using the Secure Certificate as identification;
  • The recruitment of more Indigenous border services officers by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA);
  • Enhanced training on Indigenous cultures for CBSA staff;
  • Strengthened outreach and cooperation with concerned communities along the Canada-United States border; and,
  • A commitment to a longer-term process and continued engagement by federal departments with concerned First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to discuss potential solutions to a number of more complex border crossing challenges.

Grand Chief Benedict, members of Council and Mr. Miller discussed the contribution that these measures are intended to make in helping facilitate the lives of Akwesasne residents whose daily commutes within the community involve frequently crossing the Canada-United States border and presenting themselves at ports of entry to Canada at Cornwall, Ontario and to the United States, at Massena, New York.

Quotes

"In the spirit of reconciliation, we look forward to working with Canada to address our border challenges and to continue to build upon our relationship."

Abram Benedict
Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

"Akwesasronon face daily challenges at the border that have a significant impact on their lives. Meetings like these are an important part of Canada's efforts to work in collaboration with First Nations communities, such as Akwesasne, to address sometimes very complex issues at the border. I look forward to continued collaboration with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to advance practical solutions for Akwesasronon."

Marc Miller
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Quick facts

  • In December 2016, Fred Caron was appointed as Minister's Special Representative to examine First Nations' Canada-United States border-crossing issues. From January to August 2017, he met with representatives from First Nations across Canada to hear about their concerns related to crossing the border.

  • The implementation of the measures to address First Nations' border-crossing issues, originally announced by Minister Bennett and Minister Goodale in December 2018, involved a number of federal departments and agencies, including Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada; Indigenous Services Canada; Canada Border Services Agency; Public Safety Canada; Transport Canada; Global Affairs Canada; and, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

  • The Government of Canada is also making a commitment to a longer-term process with concerned First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to discuss potential solutions to a number of more complex border-crossing issues.

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Associated links

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Matthew Dillon-Leitch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
819-997-0002

Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
819-934-2302
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@canada.ca

Canada Border Services Agency
questions@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Media Line
613-957-6500

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2019-01-23