BORDER CROSSING CELEBRATION
This celebration honors the Jay Treaty of 1794 and the Treaty of Ghent of 1814.  The Celebration is to remind the U.S. and Canadian governments that it was the Indigenous or Aboriginal (Native Americans) people who lived and thrived on this continent first and were granted rights by the newcomers (i.e. Europeans), and in which these rights are still in effect today.

The first Border Crossing Celebration took place July 14, 1928.  This annual event, which is held the third weekend in July, symbolizes the continuous assertion of the sovereignty of Native American Nations within the United States and Canadian Provinces. The Indian Defense League of America (IDLA) continues to assist the Haudenosaunee from "getting their horns caught in the wire", and is steadfast in defending the issue of free passage for all indigenous people of the North American continent.

This year's Celebration will take place on Saturday, July 19, 2008.  It is held in Niagara Falls on either the U.S. or Canadian side.  It is marked by a border crossing parade, which begins forming around 11:00 am and takes place on the Rainbow Bridge at noon.  The procession crosses the border from the U.S. to Canada one year and vice versa the next.  This year the parade will form on the Canadian side and cross to the U.S. side.  After the parade, the rest of the day is filled with many different traditional and some not-so-traditional activities for families and friends to enjoy.  It is truly one of the greatest and memorable celebrations that is held in our region every year.

The IDLA was established on December 1, 1926 to resist further erosion of the rights of Native people in North America.  The IDLA was established to guarantee unrestricted passage on the continent of North America for Native people.  Unrestricted passage is considered an inherent right for indigenous people.