Mixed-race couples challenge Kahnawake residency rules

More than a dozen people appeared in court Tuesday to challenge a Mohawk Council ofKahnawakelaw that prevents non-Indigenous people from living on the Mohawk territorysouth ofMontreal.

It's known as the "marry out, stay out" law.

These mixed-race families argue the Mohawk council's residency laws are unconstitutional and discriminatory.

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Among those challenging the law in Quebec Superior Courtis Waneek Horn-Miller, who grew up in Kahnawake.Because she married a white man, her familycannot live together in her homecommunity.

"As Indigenous people, we have very strong ties to the land where our ancestors are, and I also feel very strongly about contributing to my community," Horn-Miller said. She saidshe wants to help build Kahnawake and move it forward.

Horn-Miller was a teenager during the 1990Okacrisis, a land dispute thatresulted in the death ofa provincial police officer, when she was stabbed in the chestby a soldier's bayonet while protecting her younger sister.

Horn-Miller now lives in Ottawa butsaid she desperately wants to move back to Kahnawake.

"I don't believe you should have to pick between your heart, which is the love of a wonderful man which has made my life incredible, and my community," she said.

Non-Indigenous people welcome, but not to stay:council

For the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, the law is a tool with which to protect the community's culture, traditions and even language.

Joe Delaronde, spokesperson for the council, said that people in his community are disappointed the dispute is now before a non-Mohawk tribunal.

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"The real concern for us is that a community law is being challenged in a Quebec court when, really, we've made that determination all along," Delaronde said outside the courtroom in Longueuil.

The council feels "extremely strongly" that the matter should be decided internally, he said.

The bottom line is that non-Indigenous people are welcome in the communitybut cannot live there, Delaronde explained.

"The fact of the matter is, we are on a postage stamp next to Montreal surrounded by Quebec, Canada, the United States, everybody," Delaronde said. "It's very difficult to maintain identity, language, culture."