Greetings,
Many children in our communities will be going back to school soon. For some, it will be for the first time since COVID-19 disrupted the world. It will be a time of adjustment for all. I am amazed at how resilient young people are. They have the uncanny ability to adapt much quicker than grown-ups. I encourage everyone to give gratitude to all of those who teach and guide our children at school. For the past 18 months we have learned first-hand how difficult their jobs are. They deserve all of the praise and support we can give them.
The 2021 USBOXLA Nationals, known as the best box lacrosse tournament in the Nation, was held August 6th-8th in San Jose, California. A local team, Iroquois Thunder competed in the Midget A category and consisted of all Iroquois team members. The Seneca Nation was represented by Assistant Coach, Robbie Jimerson and players: Mannox Jamison, Blayze Becker, Maddox Isaac, Landen Jimerson, Mason Sanden and Macay Jimerson. The Midget A category is deemed the best of the best. After two days of intense competition, the Iroquois Thunder-Midget A team brought home the gold medal, beating the Cali Lax All Stars ten to seven!!!! What an exciting accomplishment for this young team. I am proud of their hard work, and of their support systems that have encouraged them to achieve greatness.
We are nearing our final meetings for the 2021-2022 Budget Season; and remain on schedule for presentation at the regular Council Meeting on September 18th. With the addition of COVID grants received to date, we stand to recoup some costs for personnel at SALC and ECLC for FY 2022. Our Seneca Nation Housing Authority has worked diligently with our Fiscal Department to complete all tasks associated with becoming a Seneca Nation department, effective October 1st, 2021. In an effort to streamline the voluminous amount of paperwork associated with fiscal operations, we are currently making progress with automating our document approval and workflow system for Human Resources, Purchasing and other Fiscal Department paperwork. This process will significantly reduce the amount of time it takes for approvals and other items to work their way through the process from beginning to completion.
I’d like to acknowledge that our Clerk’s Office staff has worked very hard to get the August 25th ARPA Fund distribution list prepared so our Fiscal staff could cut the checks and make direct deposits for those whom applied by the first deadline. We hope these funds will help families recoup some of the costs associated with surviving this global pandemic; such as, costs for masks, cleaning supplies, additional food and other expenses. If you missed the first deadline for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, you still have until August 31st, 2021, for the final distribution date of September 29th, 2021. Don’t forget – in addition to the application; and in accordance with other Seneca Nation direct benefit programs, enrolled Senecas must have completed their regular registration requirements with the Clerk’s Office. If you have not received an ARPA Fund form in the mail, please contact the Clerk’s Office as soon as possible – Allegany: (716) 945-1790; Cattaraugus: (716) 532-4900; Buffalo Office: (716) 951-7555.
Although the number of cases of COVID on our territories is low, it is an indication that we are still doing battle with this insidious virus. If you are presently unvaccinated, for the protection of all our people – please consider getting your COVID-19 immunization shot(s) as soon as humanly possible.
Respectfully,
Rickey L. Armstrong, Sr.
