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Immigration officials at the Alberta-Montana border are being criticized by the region's bands for enforcing immigration policies that do not respect family ties or religious practices.
Complaints coming out of the Blackfoot and Blackfeet nations include the opening of medicine bundles and failure to recognize common-law marriages that keep families separated.
"It's a regular horror story sometimes when you listen to these stories," said Bob Gervais, a representative in the Montana state legislature from the Blackfeet Nation.
"I've heard complaints about harassments at the border...We were the first people here. We don't think an imaginary line should stop us."
It is not uncommon for Natives crossing into Canada to be subjected to thorough searches or be turned away for financial reasons when making family visits, said Gervais, adding that he had also been stopped on several occasions.
But immigration officials say they are only following policies and procedures set out in Canadian immigration law.
"Everyone coming into Canada must report to immigration. We have to stick to the rules," said Paul Thielan, manager of Canada Immigration offices in Coutts, Alta.
"People must have sufficient finances...Do you have enough money in your pocket to do things you say you are going to do?"
Thielan said immigration is concerned about the issue of opening medicine bundles, but has no way of knowing when they are dealing with genuine sacred objects
or false claims.
First nation and government representatives from both sides of the border have been meeting to try and work out ways to accommodate Native concerns.
Gervais said hiring more Native people at immigration would help solve the problem. Thielan suggested finding a way of formally identifying people carrying religious artifacts so they can be treated with respect.
"The purpose is to develop an understanding of what the laws are. Then if there are things that need changing, we can change," Gervais said.
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