The Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team has been delayed from traveling to the World Lacrosse Championships. The team claims this is due to some members holding passports issued by the Iroquois confederacy. Robert Siegel talks to S.L. Price, senior writer for Sports Illustrated, who's been following the story
The Iroquois are a major player in the international lacrosse scene, so having them miss the World Championships is bad for everyone. It makes total sense that the Iroquois wouldn't want to travel under an American passport as they go to compete against the Americans.
Robert Siegel's point, that the Welsh aren't complaining about traveling under a UK passport, doesn't really hold up. The Welsh aren't competing against the UK, they're competing against England. It would have been closer if he'd referenced Northern Ireland, which is largely separatist, but even that is a bit of a stretch. Maybe it's like the DC Olympic Curling team, or the Puerto Ricans in the summer Olympics.
All the same, the American government has an interest in asserting dominion over Native American tribes while allowing them to function largely autonomously. In previous international situations, it was, as said in the story, "don't ask, don't tell." When it comes down to it, the US does not recognize tribes like the Iroquois as sovereign nations.
Rightly or wrongly in principle, when the United Kingdom asked the United States if the US would guarantee the right of return for the Iroquois under Iroquois passports, the US responded with its existing policy.
Not sure how I feel about the principle in general though. I do hope they get it sorted in time for the Iroquois team to play, though. My impression, perhaps completely unfounded, is that so much of the Native American youth is devoid of aspiration that this kind of competition can only be a good thing.
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