New temporary policy allows Indigenous people freer movement across borders

The federal government is putting in new temporary measures at the border to make cross-border mobility for Indigenous people easier.

The change was announced last week. It will allow eligible Indigenous people whose family members live in Canada to either work or study in Canada with some requirements waived and to extend their stay up to three years for those already in Canada.

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller says it's the first step in correcting an imposition the  government has put on Indigenous people.

"There are families that currently are divided by the border or face burdens on a daily basis," said Miller.

"This will alleviate the pressure on them that we know exists for Indigenous people, whether it's in Canada or the U.S. So I think this is an important first step, but it is only very much a first step."

As of Oct. 10, Indigenous people who are eligible for the temporary measures can apply. Those coming to Canada must apply in advance.

Canada looking to recognize Indigenous trans-border movement rights

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International borders often separate Indigenous people in Canada, the U.S. and Greenland from their relatives and homelands. Some First Nations even issue passports, which other countries recognize for free travel, but Canada does not — something the federal immigration minister now says should be fixed.

Sydney Jones-Mason is from Couchiching First Nation in northwestern Ontario and has family that lives in Minnesota.

She says although she personally has never had issues at the border, she has felt uncomfortable during interactions with the officers there.

"Sometimes I feel like … they judge me for being able to freely cross the border whenever I want to with a status card, which I think they kind of seem to forget," said Jones-Mason.

"With our status cards, we're able to freely cross the border whenever we please without any type of barriers. And that's how I was able to live across the border was that I had my status card and I was able to basically be a dual citizen."

Jones-Mason said it's also harder for Americans to get into Canada than for them to get back into America. She said her father had some legal issues and normally wouldn't have been allowed to enter Canada, but because he had a status card, he was able to.

"They kind of did give him a hard time. They obviously did let him cross because that was his right because he did have it. He also had a status card from Manitou Rapids, so that kind of helped a lot," said Jones-Mason.

"But I know that if they weren't Manitou Rapids, First Nations individuals, then I think that a lot of them wouldn't be able to come and cross and visit and come to powwows and stuff like that."

She said her family is blessed to be from both sides of the border, with being enrolled in Manitou Rapids and also being enrolled in White Earth Chippewa Tribe and said they "kind of beat the system" with getting over to Canada and being able to freely move in the states.

Jones-Mason also welcomes the new temporary measures, but would like to see more implemented, including recognizing tribal IDs on entry into Canada. She said she thinks Indigenous people, on both sides of the border, should be able to cross whenever they please with no issues.

"If we work toward letting those forms of ID to be able to help [and] have our people come to Canada to attend ceremonies, because we have ceremonies up here that they don't have down there, or come to powwows here that they haven't got the chance to go to before," said Jones-Mason.