Haudenosaunee passport

Historical Origins and Assertion of Sovereignty

The use of a Haudenosaunee-issued passport dates back to at least 1923, when Cayuga Chief Deskaheh (Levi General) travelled to Geneva, Switzerland, to bring the confederacy's case before the League of Nations. This early document is widely considered the first example of an Indigenous passport and was certainly the first Haudenosaunee example. The modern practice was formally resurrected in 1977 when a 21-person Haudenosaunee delegation travelled to a United Nations precursor conference in Geneva on passports issued by the Haudenosaunee Grand Council. This action deliberately mirrored Deskaheh's mission and reaffirmed the confederacy's sovereign right to authenticate its own citizens for international travel. The spirit of Deskaheh's 1923 mission was renewed exactly one century later in July 2023, when the current Deskaheh, Chief Steven Jacobs, travelled to Geneva at the invitation of the city's mayor to renew diplomatic relations. The Haudenosaunee passport evolved from negotiations with the U.S. State Department, Canada, Britain and other countries.

Design, Issuance and Governing Structure

The Haudenosaunee passport is issued to enrolled members of the six nations of the confederacy: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. The Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee, the confederacy's traditional government, holds the authority to issue these documents, with the main meeting place and issuance location being on Onondaga territory. For many years, the passports were leather-bound, though the confederacy has undertaken efforts to develop new, more secure versions. The primary purpose of the passport is to serve as both a travel document and a powerful symbol of Haudenosaunee nationhood and self-determination. It is used for international diplomatic travel, cultural exchanges, and participation in global sporting events. The confederacy argues that using its own passport, rather than American or Canadian documents, is a necessary exercise of its inherent sovereignty and a rejection of imposed citizenship. The act of issuing and using the passport is deeply connected to the Haudenosaunee worldview and its historical treaties, such as the Guswenta or Two Row Wampum, an agreement of mutual respect and non-interference made with the Dutch in 1613. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy itself was formed by the Peacemaker under the Gayanashagowa, or Great Law of Peace.

International Recognition and Travel Incidents

The acceptance of the Haudenosaunee passport by other nations has been inconsistent and often problematic. While countries like Japan, Australia, Israel, and Ireland have accepted it for specific events, major Western governments consistently refuse. The European Union does not recognize it as a valid travel document and prohibits visa issuance on it, barring entry to the Schengen Area. Similarly, the Isle of Man explicitly lists it as a 'fantasy passport', a term applied to documents issued by groups to which no official recognition has been given. Several high-profile incidents highlight these challenges. In 2010, the United Kingdom refused visas for the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team travelling to the World Lacrosse Championship in Manchester, leading to a diplomatic standoff. The United States offered to issue U.S. passports to the team members, an offer that was rejected, and several days later issued waivers for re-entry. The UK still refused visas, barring the team from the championship. In another case, a 2010 Haudenosaunee delegation returning from an environmental conference in Bolivia was unable to return to Canada on the passport, stranding the group in El Salvador for several weeks before they were allowed, under escort, to transit via the United States. More recently, in October 2023, a delegation including Tadodaho Sidney Hill was blocked from transiting through Lima, Peru, after Bolivian officials stated the Canadian government had urged Peru not to recognize the passports. The validity of an Haudenosaunee passport for various purposes has been questioned, and the issue is entangled with the larger issue of Haudenosaunee sovereignty.

Legal and Diplomatic Context of Sovereignty

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy bases its right to issue passports on its status as a sovereign nation predating both Canada and the United States. This claim is supported by historical treaties, most notably the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua between the United States and the Six Nations, which the U.S. Department of Justice reaffirmed as valid in an Amicus brief filed in February 2023. The confederacy also cites the 1784 Treaty of Fort Stanwix and the 1789 Treaty of Harmar. Haudenosaunee leaders contend that these treaties are clear evidence that they are a separate sovereign and that their citizens are not U.S. citizens, despite the unilateral attempt by the U.S. in 1924 with its Citizenship Act. The confederacy explicitly rejected this act in a 1924 letter to the U.S. President stating they were not willing to relinquish their Haudenosaunee citizenship. They reference Article III of the 1794 Jay Treaty, which guaranteed 'Indians dwelling on either side' of the international boundary the right 'freely to pass and repass by land or inland navigation' into either Canada or the United States. The Haudenosaunee argue that the term 'freely' means burdensome documentation requirements cannot be lawfully imposed without their consent. Diplomatically, the Haudenosaunee have worked for years through forums like the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Their ongoing use of the passport is a direct application of the principles embedded in their constitution, the Great Law of Peace.

The Passport in Canadian Policy and Border Crossings

The Canadian government does not accept the Haudenosaunee passport for entry into the country, and it is not on the official list of acceptable identification for border crossing. The Canada Border Services Agency has confirmed this policy in response to specific incidents. For example, on June 18, 2011, a Haudenosaunee passport was confiscated from an Akwesasne Mohawk woman at the Cornwall, Ontario port of entry, and she was required to use her Certificate of Indian Status card to cross. Canadian policy directly impacts Haudenosaunee citizens whose territories, like Akwesasne, Kahnawake, and Six Nations of the Grand River, are located on or near the international border. The Canadian stance has also extended to influencing other nations, as alleged in the 2023 incident where a Bolivian foreign ministry official stated the Canadian government urged Peruvian authorities not to recognize the passports, allegedly calling them 'fantasy documents'. For travel, First Nations members are advised by Canadian authorities to carry a valid Canadian passport or a secure status card with a machine-readable zone. This creates a practical and political dilemma for Haudenosaunee citizens who view acceptance of a Canadian passport as a compromise of their national identity and treaty rights. The governments in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have refused to endorse the document as valid document for international travel.

Notable Uses and Events Involving the Passport

The Haudenosaunee passport has been used for a wide range of international engagements over several decades. Beyond early diplomatic missions, its use by sports teams has been particularly visible. The Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team has travelled on Haudenosaunee passports to tournaments in Japan in 2005, Australia, and other countries. In July 2018, Israel accepted the team's passports for travel to the World Lacrosse Championships, subject to assurances from the Canadian government about their return. In August 2022, Ireland acknowledged and accepted the passports for the Under 21 World Lacrosse Championship. The passport is also routinely used for cultural and political diplomacy. In July 2023, Chief Steven Jacobs, the current Deskaheh, travelled to Geneva at the invitation of the city's mayor, renewing a relationship begun by his predecessor a century earlier. In a symbolic act of reciprocity, the Haudenosaunee stamped the passports of visiting international lacrosse teams during the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships held on Haudenosaunee land in September 2023. The Haudenosaunee passport has, however, been successfully used for international travel.

• 1923: Deskaheh travels to Geneva, Switzerland, to address the League of Nations.
• 1977: A 21-person delegation uses the passports to attend the NGO conference on 'Discrimination Against the Indigenous Populations of the Americas' in Geneva.
• 2005: Japan allows a delegation travelling on the passport to visit for the World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions.
• 2010: The UK refuses visas for the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team, causing a major incident.
• 2010: A Haudenosaunee delegation is stranded in El Salvador after an environmental conference in Bolivia.
• 2011: A Haudenosaunee passport is confiscated at the Cornwall, Ontario border crossing.
• 2018: Israel accepts the passports for the Iroquois Nationals' travel to the World Lacrosse Championships.
• 2022: Ireland accepts the passports for the Under 21 World Lacrosse Championship.
• 2023: Chief Steven Jacobs travels to Geneva on a Haudenosaunee passport.
• 2023: The confederacy stamps visitors' passports during the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

Security Standards and Future Development

In response to challenges at international borders, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy has undertaken a multi-year project to develop a new, more secure passport and identification system. The confederacy is confident this new document will meet the security demands of the modern world. This development is a direct effort to address the criticisms and non-recognition from other governments, particularly regarding the 2009 Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requirements for entry to the United States, which the older passports did not meet as of 2010. The goal is to create a document that is technologically advanced and difficult for other nations to dismiss on security grounds. This initiative represents a proactive approach to maintaining sovereignty through modern means, ensuring that the passport remains a viable tool for international travel. The work on this upgraded passport is part of a broader effort to ensure the federal governments of the United States and Canada continue to respect the Haudenosaunee right to carry their own documentation.

Related Indigenous Travel Documents and Broader Context

The Haudenosaunee passport is not the only example of an Indigenous nation asserting the right to issue its own travel documentation. In 1977, a Cree man named Fred Plains from Timmins, Ontario, claimed to have successfully entered Sweden using a homemade Cree passport. The concept of an 'Aboriginal passport' speaks to a broader movement among Indigenous peoples worldwide to have their distinct nationhood and sovereignty recognized in international fora. These documents challenge the monopoly of nation-states over the authority to define citizenship and control borders. They are physical manifestations of the political argument that Indigenous nations are sovereign entities with the inherent right to conduct their own foreign relations. The struggles faced by Haudenosaunee passport holders at borders are thus part of a larger global context where Indigenous peoples seek to exercise self-determination and have their pre-existing and treaty-based rights honoured by the contemporary international system. The Haudenosaunee experience, with its long history of documented use and diplomatic engagement, provides a prominent case study in this ongoing global dialogue.

Questions about Haudenosaunee passport

What is a Haudenosaunee passport?

The Haudenosaunee passport is a travel and identity document issued by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to its enrolled citizens. It is also known as the Iroquois passport and serves as an assertion of the confederacy's sovereignty. The passport is used for international travel to diplomatic meetings, cultural events, and sporting competitions. It represents the holder's citizenship in the Haudenosaunee nation, which includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora peoples. The passport evolved from negotiations with the U.S. State Department, Canada, Britain and other countries.

Is the Haudenosaunee passport valid for entering Canada?

No, the Canadian government does not accept the Haudenosaunee passport for entry into Canada. It is not on Canada's list of acceptable identification for border crossing. The Canada Border Services Agency has enforced this policy, including in incidents where passports were confiscated at ports of entry. Haudenosaunee citizens crossing into Canada are required to use other documents, such as a Canadian passport or a secure Certificate of Indian Status card. The governments in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have refused to endorse the document for international travel.

Which countries have accepted the Haudenosaunee passport?

Several countries have accepted the Haudenosaunee passport for specific events or travel. Japan accepted it for a delegation in 2005, and Israel accepted it for the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team in 2018 subject to Canadian assurances. Ireland also accepted it for a lacrosse championship in 2022. However, major Western powers including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union member states within the Schengen Area do not recognize it as a valid travel document. The Isle of Man and the EU list it as a 'fantasy passport'.

Why does the Haudenosaunee Confederacy issue its own passport?

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy issues its own passport as an exercise of its inherent sovereignty and right to self-determination. Leaders argue that accepting American or Canadian passports would be an acknowledgment of foreign citizenship, which they reject based on historical treaties that recognize their nationhood. The passport is a practical tool for international diplomacy and a symbolic reaffirmation of their distinct political identity, which predates the establishment of both Canada and the United States. They cite treaties like the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua and the 1794 Jay Treaty to support this right.

What was the 2010 lacrosse team passport controversy?

In July 2010, the United Kingdom refused to issue visas to the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team because they were travelling on Haudenosaunee passports for the World Lacrosse Championship in Manchester. The U.S. government offered to issue U.S. passports, which the team rejected, and later provided a one-time waiver for re-entry to the United States. Despite this, the UK continued to deny visas, preventing the team from competing. This incident highlighted the conflict between Indigenous sovereignty and state border controls and involved diplomatic intervention.

What historical treaties support the use of a Haudenosaunee passport?

Haudenosaunee leaders cite several historical treaties to support their sovereign status and right to their own documentation. The 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua with the United States is a key document, recently reaffirmed as valid by the U.S. Department of Justice in a 2023 court brief. They also reference the 1794 Jay Treaty, which guarantees Indigenous peoples the right to freely cross the U.S.-Canada border. The foundational Two Row Wampum treaty with the Dutch in 1613 establishes principles of mutual respect and non-interference. Other cited treaties include the 1784 Treaty of Fort Stanwix and the 1789 Treaty of Harmar.

What are the security features of the Haudenosaunee passport?

For many years, Haudenosaunee passports were leather-bound. As of 2010, the passports did not meet the 2009 Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requirements for entry to the United States, although upgrades were in progress. In response to border challenges, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy has undertaken a project to develop a new, more secure passport and identification system intended to meet modern security demands. The confederacy aims to create a technologically advanced document that is difficult for other nations to dismiss on security grounds.

Have other Indigenous nations issued similar passports?

Yes, other Indigenous nations have asserted the right to issue travel documents. In 1977, a Cree man named Fred Plains from Timmins, Ontario, claimed to have successfully entered Sweden using a homemade Cree passport. The concept of an 'Aboriginal passport' is part of a broader global movement among Indigenous peoples to have their distinct nationhood and sovereignty recognized. These documents challenge the monopoly of nation-states over citizenship and borders, asserting that Indigenous nations are sovereign entities with the inherent right to conduct their own foreign relations.

Sources and further reading

• Haudenosaunee passport (Wikipedia)
• My six nation Haudenosaunee passport is not a 'fantasy ... (theguardian.com)
• The Haudenosaunee Passport: A brief historical sketch (shekonneechie.ca)
• The Haudenosaunee Confederacy: Sovereignty, ... (onondaganation.org)
• Who We Are (haudenosauneeconfederacy.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-30.