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U.S. Won't Recognize Iroquois' Tribe-Issued Passports
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Jul 13, 2010
Modified Jul 13, 2010
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published Jul 13, 2010
Modified Jul 13, 2010
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A team of Iroquois lacrosse players are on an impromptu vacation in New York after being barred from flying to a tournament in England. The passports—issued by the Haudenosaunee confederacy of six Iroquois nations—have been accepted for over 20 years. But JFK airport wouldn't accept them on Sunday, and now The Iroquois Nationals are stuck in the city.
According to Indian Country Today, the British Consulate would not issue the team visas because the U.S. said it wouldn't let the members back into the states with their Haudenosaunee passports. And though the State Department offered to expedite U.S. passports for the team, they declined, saying using any other passport would be insulting to their culture. Player Gewas Schindler said, "It's a huge deal because these visas mean so much to our sovereignty."
The team is scheduled to play on Thursday at the World Lacrosse Championships, and already missed a scrimmage with Scotland. The team's executive director said, "Time is running out. Unless things happen quickly in the next 24 hours it's going to be very difficult to make the game," and called the situation "all bureaucracy." For now, the team is checking out the sights and practicing at Wagner College on Staten Island. Player Delby Powless said, "We're trying to keep our minds focused on the lacrosse aspect. I just want to play lacrosse."
Tagged
Haudenosaunee
iroquois
iroquois nationals
lacrosse
passports
visas
Jaya Saxena
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