Feature President

A message from President Matthew B. Pagels

Nya:wëh Sgë:nö’ Gagwe:goh!

I’d like to start with acknowledging the passing of former first lady Deanna Snyder. The wife of the late President Barry E. Snyder, Sr., had dedicated much of her life supporting the Seneca community with her time, energy and strength by his side. We are forever thankful for her dedication. President Snyder and Deanna originally founded the Seneca Diabetes Foundation back in 2005, a valuable resource that provides funding for critical healthcare needs and scholarships for college students studying healthcare leadership. The Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) named the Barry and Deanna Snyder Dialysis and Medical Office Building in their honor and sponsorship. We send our sincere condolences to her family, relatives and friends.

A brief COVID update indicates our numbers are at a slight increase. Please continue to monitor yourselves for symptoms and get tested if necessary. Remember to practice COVID protocols with sanitizing and social distancing if possible. This will limit the spread of the disease.

Test kits and PPE are available for the community at the both Administration and Community centers. For more information contact the Emergency Management Department at 716-532-8178.

COVID vaccines and boosters are available at the Seneca Nation Health System. To make an appointment contact Cattaraugus Health at 716-532-5582 or Allegany Health at 716-945-5894. Vaccinations for children 6 months to 4 years old are also available at this time.

Following up on a correspondence letter sent to Governor Kathy Hochul, a response was received from the Governor’s office to initiate preliminary negotiations for our gaming compact. We are close to the 20th anniversary of the signing of our gaming compact and the Seneca Nation has made a significant impact within Western New York. We have created thousands of jobs and created more than a $1 billion in private investment to build and expand our facilities, to attract millions of visitors to the region each year.

It is time to recognize our impact to the community as we seek a new and fair compact and continue to create a thriving community with our neighbors in Western New York. We look forward to preserving our success for generations to come.

Lastly, please mark your calendars for the return of the Marvin “Joe” Curry, Veterans Powwow at Veterans Park in Allegany on July 16th and 17th. We are excited to share our culture, food and fun with all who attend. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Thank you to the Powwow Committee, staff and volunteers who made this year’s event possible. See SenecaPowwow.org for the schedule and any important information.

Stay safe, stay strong,
Dah ne’hoh dih ae’