The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008 - (Page 11)

Commitment to Community American citizens. Before Congress would vote on the issue, the Services became part of the Department of Homeland Secuchair of the immigration committee sent a letter to the Bureau rity. Border issues had never been more contentious, and border of Indian Affairs asking any other tribes to come forward. The crossing became even more difficult. But not for the Kumeyaay, Kumeyaay bands came together to form the Kumeyaay Bor- thanks to the hard work of the task force. “After 9/11 the border Task Force, with Guassac at the helm. The task force was ders were really tightened up,” said Guassac. “But we still had responsible for the government-to-government consultations no problem. We might have been the only ones with no proband liaisons to acquire short-term border crossing visas for the lem because we built those relationships, we did the censuses in the villages, and when the Kumeyaay come to the border they tribal members in Mexico. “I went before the tribal council and suggested that we should have our names, our documents.” Tribal Councilman Alan L. Barrett believes there are roughly seek what was called pass and repass [a term used for traveling in and out of the United States for ceremonial, family, and/or 200 Kumeyaay left in Mexico who need to get their visas and cultural purposes] for our people,” said Guassac. “Without dis- passports. “We’re almost done with this process. Everyone pretty respect to the tribes seeking dual citizenship, I felt it was better much who was planning on getting a visa and passport, has one for our people to demonstrate that we want our members to be by now,” he said. Today, approximately 1,900 Baja Kumeyaay reunited for cultural events and family visits. We wanted to find have been processed for the visas and passports. “They have to come up with the $50 to pay for their visa and passport, but a solution to bring people together right now.” It took two years of work for the project to be completed. otherwise, we pay for transportation and their sack lunches Guassac and others went into Mexico and took censuses of when they go to get their paperwork. “Our relatives come up all the Kumeyaay and Pai Pai people. They negotiated with here; they can stay for two weeks.” In the last decade, the Kumeyaay from Mexico, many of them the American and Mexican consulates, tribal leaders, and the Baja artisans, have visited Viejas to share in cultural traditions, tribal members themselves. A big problem in the past, before the visas were issued, was that many of the Kumeyaay didn’t have passports or bank records or anything to prove that they were Kumeyaay Indians. They needed acceptable paperwork to provide to border control. Getting passports for the Kumeyaay was a challenge. Groups of 50 villagers were escorted to the consulates, whose staff members closed down their offices for the tribe, to register — Louie Guassac, Executive Director of the Kumeyaay Border Task Force and pay for both their passports and visas. The cost? Fifty dollars. The rules were very clear: only Kumeyaay and Pai Pai were teach classes in traditional arts, and spend time with family allowed to use the necessary B1 and B2 laser visas (for cultural members. The Viejas and other bands have brought food, suppurposes only). Non-Indian spouses from the bands in Mexico plies, and toys to their relatives in Mexico at Christmas. They were not allowed entry, although children could be negotiated are helping to set up vineyards in the Guadalupe Valley, and plans are in place to open a store where Baja and other Indian through with border agents. “It was Kumeyaay and Pai Pai, only,” said Guassac. Because artists can sell their art and crafts. According to the rules of the passports are necessary to have before a visa can be obtained, the pass and repass for the Kumeyaay, tribal members from Mexico first challenge for the task force, after the census process, was to are not allowed to work while visiting the United States. The help the Kumeyaay in Mexico obtain passports. The Kumeyaay artisans can, however, receive stipends for teaching their classes worked closely with the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico, to on reservations such as Sycuan and Viejas. The Kumeyaay are also making a serious effort to create explain the long-standing history of the bands and the reasons behind wanting to bring the members together. Together, offi- economic partnerships with the bands in Mexico, to ensure cials decided to use the lesser-traveled point of entry—Tecate— that the Kumeyaay and Pai Pai there have the opportunity to grow economically. “We take care of our [southern] Kumeyaay as the official port of entry for the Kumeyaay. After the tragedy of 9/11, Immigration and Naturalization relatives,” said Barrett.  “ You have to remember you were asking southern Indian tribes who had been trans-border for literally centuries to recognize a border. For the Indian people, those borders didn’t exist for their ancestors. ” 11 Winter 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008

The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008 Contents Kumeyaay History Looking Back at the River of Tears Keeping the Borders Open for All Kumeyaay Tribal Security—Safety First Cultural Embrace Viejas Tribal Member Rescues Eagle Education for All Future in Their Hands Viejas Pow Wow Honors Native American Veterans Growing Traditions—Viejas Community Garden Remember When

The Kumeyaay Way - Winter 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.