JOINT NEWS RELEASE
BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION OF OJIBWAYS
GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION
************************* First Nations exempt from Homeland Security border requirements
Recently, Associate Port Director Patrick Wilson at U.S. Customs and Border Protection outlined a process whereby U.S. Customs and Border Protection “will not require those persons who fall under the Jay Treaty exceptions to present a WHTI compliant document on or after June 1, 2008 until such time as an alternative document is approved and issued.”
Local Chiefs Dean Sayers of Batchewana First Nation and Chief Lyle Sayers of Garden River First Nation are elated at the announcement from the United States Homeland Security and WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative).
First Nations members, including members of Batchewana and Garden River, will continue to exercise their right to travel freely across the imposed border between Canada and the United States as they are in the habit of doing.
Local chiefs advise their members that their existing status cards (laminated or secure card) documents will suffice until further notice has been corresponded.
Batchewana and Garden River First Nations are working diligently to have our own citizenship card approved in regard to Homeland Security and WHTI requirements.
Please contact your local First Nation for any updates on future requirements that may be negotiated between the United States and First Nations governments.
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