England Denies Iroquois Lacrosse Team Entrance to Country for Tournament

NEW YORK – The British government is refusing to allow an American Indian lacrosse team to travel to England using passports issued by the Iroquois Confederacy.
The decision Wednesday means the team will miss a world championship lacrosse competition in Manchester.
A British Consulate spokeswoman says the team would be able to travel only with documents the United Kingdom considers valid.
Tonya Gonnella Frichner, a member of the Onondaga Nation who works with the team, says it was told by British officials that members would have to use American or Canadian passports in order to travel to Britain.
The decision was announced hours after the U.S. cleared the team for travel on a one-time waiver at the behest of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The sport of lacrosse was invented by the Iroquois in the 12th Century or earlier. The Iroquois Nationals, the team currently being blocked by England, is the only indigenous sports team officially recognized for international play in any sport. Both men's teams and women's teams participate globally.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
NEW YORK (AP) — The British government is refusing to allow an American Indian lacrosse team to travel to England using passports issued by the Iroquois Confederacy.
The decision Wednesday means the team will miss a world championship lacrosse competition in Manchester.
A British Consulate spokeswoman says the team would be able to travel only with documents the United Kingdom considers valid.
Tonya Gonnella Frichner, a member of the Onondaga Nation who works with the team, says it was told by British officials that members would have to use American or British passports in order to travel to Britain.
The decision was announced hours after the U.S. cleared the team for travel on a one-time waiver at the behest of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.