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2023 SUMMIT

Vancouver & the Lummi Nation

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The Jay Treaty Boarder Alliance (JTBA) held its 2023 Summit (Summit) on January 31-February 1, 2023 in Vancouver, B.C. and the Lummi Nation (Ferndale, WA). The Summit provided an opportunity for Tribal leaders to meet with government officials from both the United States and Canada to discuss a wide range of Tribal border crossing issues and to hear updates on JTBA advocacy efforts. 

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SUMMIT RESOURCES

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AGENDA

 

JANUARY 31, 2023 – VANCOUVER, B.C. - Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Consultation (closed event)

Location: Best Western Premier Chateau Granville Hotel & Suites & Conference Centre

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8:00 a.m.        Breakfast

 

9:00 a.m.        Opening Remarks

  • Sxwixwtn Wilson Williams, Spokesperson & General Councillor, Squamish Nation

  • Abram Benedict, Grand Chief, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

 

9:15 a.m.        Overview and Consultation Process on UNDRIP Act Implementation

  • Panelists:

    • Amy Lickers, A.L.L. Professional Services

    • Ava Hill, Advisor

    • Robert Odawi Porter, Odawi Law, PLLC

  • Framing Questions:

    • What is your understanding of “border crossing” prior to the Jay Treaty?

    • Is Canada’s recognition of the Jay Treaty enough to capture the intent of the Right to Border Crossing or is there a need to develop a new law or policy to reflect the true intention?

    • What needs to be included in order to truly implement the Right to Border Crossing?

    • What terminology best reflects your views of how Rights are accurately reflected in implementation? (ie. Right of Entry, Right to Mobility, Free to Pass and Repass?)

    • What are your thoughts on extending the Right to Border Crossing to all First Nations (Native Nations), as well as other Indigenous Groups?

    • What are thoughts on the creation of a Border Crossing Rights Commission to monitor the proper use of these Rights?

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9:45 a.m.        Morning Refreshments [break]

 

10:00 a.m.      Testimony from Tribal Leaders

   [Present information on the impact of border crossing on Native peoples, families, nations, culture, trade,       

   sport, etc.]

 

12:00 p.m.      Consultation Adjourns

 

 

JANUARY 31, 2023 – VANCOUVER, B.C. – JTBA Summit

Location: Best Western Premier Chateau Granville Hotel & Suites & Conference Centre

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12:00 p.m.      Lunch

 

1:00 p.m.        Opening Remarks by the JTBA Co-Chairs

  • Michael Conners, Chief, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

  • Jennifer Porter, Chairwoman, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

  • Abram Benedict, Grand Chief, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

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1:10 p.m.        Remarks by Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament (video)

 

1:15 p.m.        JTBA Overview and Recent Events

  • Moderator:

    • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

  • Panelists:

    • Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Holland & Knight, LLP

    • Robert Odawi Porter, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

    • Naomie Droll, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

           

1:45 p.m.        Right-of-Entry into Canada for U.S. Born Natives and UNDRIP Overview

  • Panelists:

    • Abram Benedict, Grand Chief, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

    • Ava Hill, Advisor

    • Robert Odawi Porter, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

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2:15 p.m.        Tribal Leader Discussion

  • Moderator:

    • Robert Odawi Porter, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

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2:45 p.m.        Afternoon Refreshments [Break]

 

3:00 p.m.        Government of Canada Listening Session

  • Moderator:

    • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

  • Panelists:

    • Loretta Landmesser, Director, Indigenous Affairs Secretariat at Canada Border Services Agency

    • Helen Robertson, Director, Migration Control and Horizontal Policy

    • Cynthia Pye, Manager, Indigenous Training Program (and  Assistant Director of the Indigenous Affairs Secretariat)

 

FEBRUARY 1, 2023 – LUMMI NATION, WASHINGTON – JTBA Summit

Location: Silver Reef Casino Resort

 

9:00 a.m.        Breakfast

 

10:00 a.m.      Opening by the Blackhawk Singers

 

10:15 a.m.      Remarks from Local Host and JTBA Co-Chairs

  • Anthony Hillaire, Chairman, Lummi Nation

  • Michael Conners, Chief, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

  • Jennifer Porter, Chairwoman, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

  • Abram Benedict, Grand Chief, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

 

10:30 a.m.      The Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act

  • Moderator:

    • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

  • Panelists:

    • James Meggesto, Holland & Knight, LLP

    • Rob Porter, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

    • Naomie Droll, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

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11:00 a.m.      Tribe-to-Tribe Trade Opportunities in the 2023 Farm Bill

  • Panelists:

    • Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Holland & Knight, LLP

    • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

 

11:30 a.m.      Tribal Leader Discussion

  • Moderator:

    • Robert Odawi Porter, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

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12:00 p.m.      Lunch

 

1:00 p.m.        U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Tribal Listening Session

  •  Moderator:

    • Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Holland & Knight, LLP

  • Panelists:

    • Bronia E. Ashford, Chief of Tribal and Community Affairs, Intergovernmental Public Liaison, Office of the Commissioner, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    • Lisa Brown, Assistant Director, Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Seattle Field Office

  • Framing Questions:

    • How can CBP provide additional support to Tribal nations on the Northern Border? Please describe or highlight in person or virtual meetings, conferences, summits, events, etc. where CBP can participate and or offer assistance?

    • Describe a situation (can be anonymous) where CBP Officers encountered sacred, ceremonial, or cultural items while crossing the border and, CBP engaged with the Tribal member appropriately? CBP could have done a better job handling the sacred, ceremonial, or cultural item?

    • How can CBP Officers and Tribal nations work in collaboration to ensure proper handling of sacred, ceremonial, and cultural items?  Are there educational opportunities for CBP employees to learn about the importance of ceremonial dress, regalia, medicine bundles, rattles, fans, masks, and more?  This also can include scheduling culturally sensitive and appropriate discussions to include world views, cultural ceremonies, religious ceremonies, and other important days, seasons, holidays, etc. that Tribal nations choose to share. Do you have literature on sacred, ceremonial, and cultural items that CBP can use for distribution and or training?

    • Describe situations where CBP Officers delayed Tribal members traveling across the Northern border due to issues with their identification/travel documents?

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3:00 p.m.        Enhanced Tribal Identification Cards

  • Panelists:

    • Marisela Nunez, Director of Enrollment and ETC Program

    • Vivian Arandules, Sacred Path

 

4:00 p.m.        JTBA Organizational Discussion

  • Moderators:

    • Robert Odawi Porter, Capitol Hill Policy Group, LLC

    • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

    • Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Holland & Knight, LLP

​Border Crossing Information:

  • Northbound Courtesy Clearance for JTBA Summit travelers:

    • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will be offering courtesy clearance measures for parties arriving from the United States in order to attend, or returning from (US portion of the summit), for summit meetings from January 30 to February 2. For those travelling north to Canada via a land border, we invite you to cross through the Douglas Port of Entry at the northern most end of Interstate 5, located at 220 Hwy 99 opposite the Peace Arch Port of Entry, so we can expedite your arrival through the NEXUS lanes. The NEXUS lanes are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and you do not need to be a NEXUS Program Member. When you arrive at the booth please notify the officer that you are travelling for the JTBA Summit. This courtesy clearance applies to JTBA delegates as well as travelling companions in the same vehicle. If you arrive outside of that timeframe please use a regular lane and notify the officer you are travelling for the JTBA summit.

    • Please note that this courtesy clearance only applies to travelers coming north to enter Canada (CBSA). Persons seeking entry south to the United States should not attempt to utilize US southbound Nexus lanes (unless you  are already a NEXUS Program Member) as part of courtesy clearance as this falls under United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) jurisdiction. 

    • If you are travelling through Vancouver airport please notify our Pacific Regional Indigenous Affairs Advisor, Robin Rattlesnake at Robin.Rattlesnake@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca or 236-335-2980 so we can facilitate your entry. The courtesy clearance will be in place to bypass any border line-ups only – all other border clearance measures and processing remain in place. 

    • If you have any questions about entering Canada to attend the summit, please reach out to Robin Rattlesnake at Robin.Rattlesnake@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca or 236-335-2980

  • Southbound Courtesy Clearance for JTBA Summit travelers:

    • Blaine Area Port can accommodate courtesy clearance measures for parties arriving to the United States to attend, or returning from the summit meetings from January 31 through February 1 at the Peace Arch Port of Entry which is the port directly at the water and connects Hwy 99 in Canada to I-5 in the U.S.  The Peace Arch Nexus Lane is open 6 a.m. until midnight and you do not need to be a NEXUS Program Member. When you arrive at the booth, please notify the officer that you are travelling for the JTBA Summit. This courtesy clearance applies to JTBA delegates as well as travelling companions in the same vehicle. If you arrive outside of that timeframe, please use a regular lane and notify the officer you are travelling for the JTBA summit.​

    • If you have any questions, please contact Renne Archer at Renne.j.archer@cbp.dhs.gov. 

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