Cultural Borders and the Tuscarora Nation: Border Control, Identity, and the US-Canadian Borderland
Overview
This paper analyzes the cultural and political impact of the US-Canadian border on the Tuscarora Nation and other Native American communities historically situated across the border. The essay argues that the imposed border functions as a cultural barrier rather than a bridge, disrupting kinship networks, restricting movement based on citizenship and ethnicity classifications, and creating conditions of cultural isolation and marginalization for border nations.
What this essay covers
- Historical context of the Tuscarora Nation and pre-colonial cross-border movement
- Post-9/11 border militarization and its impact on Native American communities
- Restrictions on cross-border movement based on citizenship and legal definitions of 'Native' status
- Cultural isolation and multicultural identity struggles within borderland societies
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Cultural Borders
Analysis 1
One significant cultural border(land) issue relates to the American Indian communities situated across the US-Canadian border. Long before the colonization of North America, the Tuscarora Nation (a Native American tribe that originally occupied parts of North Carolina but moved north and partially into Canada) passed freely across their land. However, the coming of the European settlers and the subsequent forming of American and Canadian governments resulted in the setting up of a border to separate the two jurisdictions. The Tuscarora Nation was one of the many Native American tribes affected by the institution of the US-Canadian border: the border cut through the tribe and separated entire families. American history, both past and present, consists of border nations like the Tuscarora Nation. When the white colonizers drew the US-Canadian border, they simply bisected the Native American nations living across the border, effectively ending cross-border movement by tribe members. The US government intensified border control and security after the 9/11 attacks.
Owing to the enduring threat of terrorists, illegal immigrants, and criminals crossing the US-Canadian border, the US government has intensified border control to strengthen national security: what was once the “longest undefended border” is now patrolled by federal, state, and local agencies. The Tuscarora Nation has been severely impacted by the imposed borders since cross-border interactions between members of the Tuscarora Nation are no longer possible.