Let The Iroquois Lacrosse Team In

The UK has said it will refuse to allow a Native American lacrosse team to travel to the country using passports issued by the Iroquois Confederacy.

Officials told the team they would be granted a visa at immigration only with documents considered valid by the UK, including US or Canadian passports.

The team says using other passports would be an attack on their identity.

The Iroquois Confederacy of six Indian nations oversees tribal land that stretches from upstate New York into the Canadian province of Ontario.

The UK's decision not to accept the confederacy's travel documents came a day before the opening day at the Lacrosse World Championships in Manchester, during which the Iroquois team were due to play England.

The Iroquois helped invent lacrosse, as early as 1,000 years ago. Federation of International Lacrosse spokesman Ron Balls said in a statement on the championship website on Wednesday that the Iroquois team would forfeit their opening game if it did not arrive on time.

Support the campaign to let them play. I signed the petition and got this message.


Dear Adrian WIndisch,

Thank you for signing the "World Lacrosse Championships 2010 - absence of Iroquois" petition at iPetitions.com.
Your signature is valuable and makes a real difference. Please encourage others to sign the petition as well. Forward the text below to everyone who might be interested:

Hi,
I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:
"World Lacrosse Championships 2010 - absence of Iroquois"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/iroquoislacrosse/

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.

Thanks!

Derek covers it here
Jonathan Kent, a Green Party member from here in the South East of England has set up a facebook to support them, please join it here.
And Vowles here