U.S. authorities forbid a Canadian chief from entering the country with his traditional eagle feather warbonnet.
Kainaiwa First Nation Chief Chris Shade was on his way to a Blackfoot Confederacy gathering in Montana. He provided documentation of his Indian status but wasn’t allowed through with the head dress. At the Sweet Grass port, the U.S. Border Patrol say they had to enforce a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulation forbidding the transport of eagle feathers into the United States.
Canadian authorities don’t issue permits for eagle items. U.S. authorities said they would recognize one.
The Blackfoot Confederacy is composed of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana and the Blood, Peigan and Siksika First Nations of Alberta.
