February 23, 2024 | oleantimesherald.com
ST. BONAVENTURE — Leaders of the Seneca Nation and the St. Bonaventure University community met last month for the first time since the two institutions agreed last fall to rekindle their relationship.
“This is about polishing the chain of friendship,” said Odie Porter, a Seneca Nation Councillor, referring to a centuries-old metaphor about renewing relationships with Indigenous people.
In October, the Seneca Nation Council approved joining a committee of university faculty, staff, students and administrators to deepen their shared connections and address the needs of the Nation, while also improving the education and richness of the experience for all members of the St. Bonaventure community.
The committee’s specific focus will be to explore and develop strategies to enhance Seneca and Haudenosaunee representation on campus through “development of an appropriate land acknowledgment statement” as well as other actions that “reflect the university’s solidarity with and commitment to its Seneca neighbors.”
The Senecas and St. Bonaventure also want to develop educational collaborations, services and course material related to Seneca and Indigenous communities; coordinate events and gatherings and share news and advocacy of important issues and concerns; and build connections to Seneca SBU alumni while improving opportunities and welcome for future Seneca students.
“This partnership with the Senecas has so much potential to not only provide more opportunities for collaboration with the Nation, but to educate the Bonaventure community so we can gain a greater appreciation of the rich history of our neighbors and all that they have to offer,” Dr. Jeff Gingerich, the university’s president, said.
St. Bonaventure’s campus is on what was Seneca land. The city of Salamanca is within the Allegany Indian Reservation, which follows a meandering path along the Allegheny River from a small portion of the town of Allegany on the eastern boundary — just a few miles from campus — to the town of South Valley to the west.
St. Bonaventure established an 18-credit minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies in 2021.
The committee members include Seneca Nation councilors, Jeffrey Gill and Porter; John Waterman, Seneca deputy chief of staff; Klint Nephew, a Seneca and member of the SBU Class of 1992; Jacquie Crouse, Class of 1991 and a Seneca; Blayze Becker, an SBU student and a Mohawk; Jillian Rea, a student and a Seneca; and Oneniotekowa Maracle, a student and a Mohawk.
SBU officials on the committee include Dr. Dave Hilmey, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dean Whitcomb, director of admissions; Lindsay Retchless, director of alumni engagement; Ann Lehman, chief of staff; Dr. Oleg Bychkov, director of SBU’s Native American and Indigenous Studies program; Dr. René Hauser, dean of the School of Education; Dr. José Medrano, assistant professor of world languages and cultural studies; Father Stephen Mimnaugh, VP for mission integration; Brother Kevin Kriso, Franciscan friar at Mt. Irenaeus; Brother Robert Lenz, Franciscan friar; Tom Buttafarro, director of government and community Relations; and Tom Missel, chief communications officer.
