Greetings,
Punxsutawney Phil does it again – six more weeks of winter weather! That prediction occurred days before our region geared up for a frigid cold snap, which sent temperatures into the negative degree mark and the wind chill factor to a life-threatening level. Even though the Creator reminds us that we have no control over the weather, we are able to prepare ahead of time. We are fortunate to have departments and services that will provide shelter, food, and aid in emergency situations. The Allegany and Cattaraugus Community Centers are available as warming shelters, with food and water provisions. AOA monitors the elders, DPW assists with snow removal, and the Marshals /EMS are ready twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week for evacuation and medical assistance. For quick access, my office will soon be distributing an updated Seneca Nation service directory to elders who reside on territory.
Our Cattaraugus territory will be hosting the Native American Youth Association Annual Basketball Tournament taking place April 6-8th at the Cattaraugus Community Center, the weekend of the Cattaraugus Community Fair and school spring break. This will be an exciting opportunity for our basketball superstars to compete with other native competitors, such as the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes from Florida, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Mississippi Band of Choctaw, Porch Band of Creeks; and the other five nations of the Haudenosaunee.
We have been receiving outside support on our public outrage of Governor Hochul’s veto of a bill that would create an “Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act”. The bill would have required developers to cease construction if any human remains were discovered and report it, so remains or artifacts may be returned to proper family members or affiliated nation(s). The bill was supported unanimously by the state legislature after it was introduced by Democratic State Senator Leroy Comrie in March 2021. With forty-seven states adopting laws to protect the remains of Indigenous people, the State Legislature will be re-introducing the bill during the 2023 legislative session.
Saint Bonaventure University (SBU) is located within a fifteen-minute drive of our Allegany Territory in Olean, NY. SBU’s new President Dr. Gingrich continues to recognize injustices against the Seneca Nation and sought out pathways to strengthen our relationship by actively educating their students, faculty, and staff. On January 31, 2023, SBU announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities (one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States) has awarded the University $147,000 to improve our relationship. The grant will support the introduction of Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) curriculum into the General Education Curriculum. Seneca Nation member, Justin Schapp (deer clan), is an adjunct instructor of Liberal Arts and teaches NAIS classes at SBU. He will be assisting St. Bonaventure with the project’s implementation. The grant’s purpose is to help SBU faculty and students understand the importance of Indigenous issues and the University’s shared Franciscan values; to learn and appreciate each other while honoring their similarities and differences. With a curriculum that begins with every incoming student, it has components which address diversity, with features of the NAIS which will tie to SBU and its core mission. SBU will also provide professional development workshops for faculty, through expert Indigenous instructors and campus events with guest speakers. It is great to partner with SBU in their commitment of transforming the lives of students inside and outside of the classroom by inspiring them to live lives of commitment to service and citizenship. St. Bonaventure University has taken steps to honor their commitment, which I find very encouraging.
Never in my lifetime have I ever experienced the mass isolation that was presented during the COVID-19 pandemic. If that experience has taught me anything – it is that we need each other. I am hopeful that we have learned to stay connected to others, especially our elders. Check in on each other and spend quality time together. Stay safe and be well.
Greetings,
Punxsutawney Phil does it again – six more weeks of winter weather! That prediction occurred days before our region geared up for a frigid cold snap, which sent temperatures into the negative degree mark and the wind chill factor to a life-threatening level. Even though the Creator reminds us that we have no control over the weather, we are able to prepare ahead of time. We are fortunate to have departments and services that will provide shelter, food, and aid in emergency situations. The Allegany and Cattaraugus Community Centers are available as warming shelters, with food and water provisions. AOA monitors the elders, DPW assists with snow removal, and the Marshals /EMS are ready twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week for evacuation and medical assistance. For quick access, my office will soon be distributing an updated Seneca Nation service directory to elders who reside on territory.
Our Cattaraugus territory will be hosting the Native American Youth Association Annual Basketball Tournament taking place April 6-8th at the Cattaraugus Community Center, the weekend of the Cattaraugus Community Fair and school spring break. This will be an exciting opportunity for our basketball superstars to compete with other native competitors, such as the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes from Florida, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Mississippi Band of Choctaw, Porch Band of Creeks; and the other five nations of the Haudenosaunee.
We have been receiving outside support on our public outrage of Governor Hochul’s veto of a bill that would create an “Unmarked Burial Site Protection Act”. The bill would have required developers to cease construction if any human remains were discovered and report it, so remains or artifacts may be returned to proper family members or affiliated nation(s). The bill was supported unanimously by the state legislature after it was introduced by Democratic State Senator Leroy Comrie in March 2021. With forty-seven states adopting laws to protect the remains of Indigenous people, the State Legislature will be re-introducing the bill during the 2023 legislative session.
Saint Bonaventure University (SBU) is located within a fifteen-minute drive of our Allegany Territory in Olean, NY. SBU’s new President Dr. Gingrich continues to recognize injustices against the Seneca Nation and sought out pathways to strengthen our relationship by actively educating their students, faculty, and staff. On January 31, 2023, SBU announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities (one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States) has awarded the University $147,000 to improve our relationship. The grant will support the introduction of Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) curriculum into the General Education Curriculum. Seneca Nation member, Justin Schapp (deer clan), is an adjunct instructor of Liberal Arts and teaches NAIS classes at SBU. He will be assisting St. Bonaventure with the project’s implementation. The grant’s purpose is to help SBU faculty and students understand the importance of Indigenous issues and the University’s shared Franciscan values; to learn and appreciate each other while honoring their similarities and differences. With a curriculum that begins with every incoming student, it has components which address diversity, with features of the NAIS which will tie to SBU and its core mission. SBU will also provide professional development workshops for faculty, through expert Indigenous instructors and campus events with guest speakers. It is great to partner with SBU in their commitment of transforming the lives of students inside and outside of the classroom by inspiring them to live lives of commitment to service and citizenship. St. Bonaventure University has taken steps to honor their commitment, which I find very encouraging.
Never in my lifetime have I ever experienced the mass isolation that was presented during the COVID-19 pandemic. If that experience has taught me anything – it is that we need each other. I am hopeful that we have learned to stay connected to others, especially our elders. Check in on each other and spend quality time together. Stay safe and be well.
Respectfully,
Rickey L. Armstrong, Sr.
