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In the space between Aboriginal sovereignty and national security: Re‐engaging border security and Mohawk culture at Akwesasne Based on the case of the Mohawk territory of Akwesasne, wedged between Ontario, Quebec, and New York state, this paper provides an analysis of the links between the affirmation of indigenous culture and the implementation of security policies on borderlands. The focus extends beyond political conflicts over border issues to encompass the ways in which Aboriginal sovereignty is affirmed within processes of negotiation and cooperation in the matters of identification requirements, border agents' cultural sensitivity, and law enforcement. We find that the enhancement of border security can paradoxically be a political opportunity for local leaders to reaffirm indigenous sovereignty, and that this reaffirmation through cooperation is, at the same time, emerging as a key factor in the implementation of border security policies. Messages clés: Affirmation identitaire transfrontalière et politiques de sécurité se renforcent mutuellement.Les mesures de sécurité sont appropriées localement par les dirigeants indigènes.L'intégration de considérations culturelles dans les politiques de sécurité contribue à la mise en oeuvre de ces dernières. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]