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JANUARY 25-26, 2021 

VIRTUAL MEETING​

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On January 25-26, the Jay Treaty Border Alliance held a virtual meeting to provide an opportunity for leaders of tribal governments and First Nations communities located on or near the United States – Canada border to discuss crossing the border during the COVID pandemic, advocate for the enactment of the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act, and to advocate for a right of entry into Canada. 

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AGENDA

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JANUARY 25, 2021 – UNITED STATES

 

1:00 p.m.          Opening Remarks

 

1:10 p.m.          Congressional Remarks on the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act

         Panelists:

  • Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA)

  • Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

 

1:30 p.m.          Advocating for the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act in the Biden Administration and

                          the 117th Congress

         Moderator:

  • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

         Panelists:

  • James Meggesto, Holland & Knight, LLP

  • Rob Porter, Capitol Hill Consulting Group, LLC

 

2:15 p.m.          Break

 

2:30 p.m.          Crossing the U.S.-Canadian Border During the COVID Pandemic – Tribal Panel

         Moderator:

  • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

         Panelists:

  • Chairman Gary Aitken, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

  • Chief Eric Thompson, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

  • Grand Chief Abram Benedict, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

  • Elected Council Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke

  • Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

 

3:30 p.m.          Crossing the U.S.-Canadian Border During the COVID Pandemic – Federal Panel

 Moderator:

  • Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Holland & Knight LLP

 Panelists:

  • Stephanie Watson, Coronavirus Coordination Cell, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  • Ka Ho Tong, Customs and Border Protection Officer, Admissibility and Passenger Program – Enforcement Program Division, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  • Nicole Elmy, Director, Indigenous Affairs Secretariat, Canada Border Services Agency

  • Marsel Muka, Canada Border Service Agency’s Manager of the COVID-19 Border Task Force

 

4:15 p.m.          U.S. Customs and Border Protection DNA-Sample Collection

 Panelist:

  • James Meggesto, Holland & Knight, LLP

 

5:00 p.m.          Closing Remarks

 

 

JANUARY 26, 2021 – CANADA

 

1:00 p.m.          Opening Remarks

 

1:10 p.m.          Remarks from the Parliament of Canada

                           Panelist:

  • The Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services

 

1:40 p.m.          Assembly of First Nations Update

                           Panelist:

  • Mike Mitchell, AFN Special Representative on Border Security and Border Crossing.

 

2:10 p.m.          Advocating for an Indigenous Right of Crossing into Canada – Tribal Panel

         Moderator:

  • Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

         Panelists:

  • President Richard Peterson, Central Council Tlingit & Haida Tribes

  • Chairman T.J. Greene, Makah Tribe

  • Chairwoman Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Council

  • Grand Chief Abram Benedict, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

  • Elected Council Chief, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke

 

3:00 p.m.          Break 

 

3:10 p.m.          Advocating for an Indigenous Right of Crossing into Canada – Federal Panel

         Moderator:

  • Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Holland & Knight LLP

         Panelists:

  • Nicole Elmy, Director, Indigenous Affairs Secretariat, Canada Border Services Agency

  • Marc Wills, Advisor, Resolution & Partnerships Sector, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

 

3:45 p.m.          Wrap Up and Next Steps

 

4:30 p.m.          Closing

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