From Seneca Nation Archives/Onöhsagwë:de Cultural Center, Allegany Territory
1842, May 20 – Considered a compromise to the fraudulently executed Buffalo Creek Treaty of 1838, the 1842 Buffalo Creek Treaty restored the Allegany and Cattaraugus reservations. It would later be determined that the Oil Spring reservation was also included among the restored Seneca territories. The Buffalo Creek and Tonawanda reservations were lost. The Tonawanda Senecas had refused to participate in the manipulated land dealings of 1838 and 1842. In 1857 they negotiated a treaty with the U.S. that recognized their sovereignty and independence and permitted them to buy back a portion of their lands from the Ogden Land Company. The removal of Senecas to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River stipulated in the 1838 treaty was still a federal policy and some Senecas would emigrate to the west. The 9th and final treaty article stipulated that Seneca lands would be protected from “all taxes, and assessments for roads, highways, or any other purpose.”
1959, May 11 – The New Deal Party, headed by George Heron, was swept into office in the Nation’s 1958 general election. At a December session of Council it was decided to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage in the coming month of May. The proposition placed before the men would read, “Shall enrolled Seneca Nation Indian women 21 years of age and over be eligible to vote in all Seneca Nation National elections, but not be eligible to hold office in the Tribal Government of said Seneca Nation of Indians?” Opposition to women’s suffrage was heaviest at Allegany (45 no – 18 yes), whereas it was narrowly defeated at Cattaraugus (46 no – 43 yes). In the end the proposed constitutional amendment was defeated by 30 votes.
1964, May 23 – A fifth and final referendum to decide the right of Seneca women to vote was finally approved by a vote of 169 to 99. Pointing to the coming November election, President George Heron warned potential male candidates that the women “outnumber us and they intend to make their votes count.” Martin Seneca, elected president in November of 1964, gave his first state of the nation address in January 1965 saying the new administration “owes its election in part to the women.” It took five referendums for men to approve Seneca women’s suffrage (Nov. 6, 1951, Oct. 30, 1956, May 11, 1959, Oct. 27, 1962, May 23, 1964).
In an effort to increase our collection of presidential photographs, we are pleased to announce that Teri John from Steamburg provided a photograph of William Nephew. He was elected president in 1874 and was appointed president in 1879. William also served as Treasurer, Councillor (6 terms) and Overseer of the Highways (Highway Commissioner).
