Provided by Seneca Nation Archives/Onöhsagwë:de Cultural Center
1848, December 4 – At a Council held on the Cattaraugus Territory on this day seventy-two (72) men declared that “we, the people of the Seneca Nation of Indians, by virtue of the right inherent in every people, trusting in the justice and necessity of our undertaking, and humbly invoking the blessing of the God of Nations upon our efforts to improve our civil condition, and to secure to our nation the administration of equitable and wholesome laws, do hereby abolish, abrogate and annul our form of Government by chiefs, because it has failed to answer the purposes for which all governments should be created.” That day Solomon W. McLane, was named the first President of the Seneca Nation, William Jemerson was named Clerk, and Andrew John (Sr.) was named Treasurer. McLane, a school teacher, was also appointed Superintendent of Schools. Three hundred-seven (307) men would vote in the first general election on Tuesday, May 1, 1849.
1932 December – Students at the Thomas Indian School produced the first issue of The Echo. The staff included editor-in-chief Lambert Griffin (Seneca from Allegany), associate editor Ramona Scott (Seneca/Allegany), athletic editor Clyde Cole (Mohawk/St. Regis), joke editor Iola Bucktooth (Seneca/Onondaga), exchange editor Helen Jones (Seneca/Cattaraugus), art editor Wilbur Watt (Seneca/Allegany), Girl Scout reporter Edith Doxtator (Seneca/Cattaraugus), Boy Scout reporter William Winnie (Cayuga/Onondaga), and reporters Nila Washburn (Seneca/“Other”), Louise Jones (Seneca/Allegany), Calvin Hewitt (Tuscarora/Tuscarora), and Montreville Sundown (Seneca/Tonawanda). The student journalists had the following message for their fellow students: “Christmas is a season of ‘Peace on Earth, Good-will to Men.’ Meet your friends with a smile and a cheery word. Forget the ill past, grit your teeth and face the future bravely. Try to follow the star of kindliness toward others, as did the Wise Men of long ago, and you will find happiness and success in the coming year.”
1956, December 4 – At a regular session of Council held at the Allegany courthouse in Jimersontown two (2) petitions were presented. Both petitions were in opposition to the Kinzua Dam project. One was signed by the “legal voters” (men) and the other was signed by 122 “mothers of the tribe.” Two (2) resolutions were also passed that day. The first was to deny the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permission to survey the Allegany Territory and the second was to seek the aid and assistance of NYS Governor Averell Harriman in preventing the removal and destruction of Seneca homes on the Allegany Territory and the violation of Seneca treaty rights guaranteeing undisturbed possession and “the free use and enjoyment” of our homelands.
