Letter to Members of SNI

A letter to the members of the Seneca Nation from the SENECA MOTHERS AGAINST DRUGS (SMAD):

By Lucille White

The Seneca Mothers against Drugs (SMAD) is a grassroots community group operating on both Territories. Our group was brought together due to our shared grief, our anger and frustration over the drug epidemic that is raging in our homelands. Our intention is to create an increased awareness by our residents as to the status of our Nation regarding the drug epidemic. It is our hope to restore our cultural values, free from illicit drugs with the freedom to resume full use of our lands and environmental resources.

SMAD is open to all who want to work toward this same goal. You do not have to be a woman or a mother or even a Seneca to commit to change here. We welcome anyone on or off the Territories that is committed to our goal. SMAD members derive no financial gain for our efforts and have been self-supporting for gas and monitoring activities with generous donations from concerned citizens to offset these expenses. The Seneca Nation has assisted by purchasing some surveillance equipment to assist in monitoring suspected drug activities and patrols throughout both Territories. SMAD members continue to do this work out of concern and love for our people. Our greatest wish is that we return to a healthier community for current and future generations. Please join our Seneca Mothers Against Drugs (SMAD) Facebook page to stay informed and to add to our conversations.

SMAD intends to:

1. Push for civil and criminal legislation that serves to restore safety and security for our people residing in our ancestral homelands. Mothers send SMAD videos of impaired drivers pulling out of alleged drug houses swerving into traffic on our territory highways as this is another potential tragedy waiting to happen. Enforcement of current and future laws is essential to restore safety and security.
2. Continue to gather available data, accept community reports, as well as research to expand our understanding of addiction and to identify best practices in treatment for Native populations,
3. Advocate for effective data collection from all Seneca Nation Programs and services. Appropriate data collection and analysis will enhance our ability to design and obtain funding or specialized programs to combat the drug problem.
4. Advocate for improved service delivery of treatment options to our addicted choosing recovery. We will also advocate for best practices in treatment programs and aftercare.
5. Empower our community members and groups to use our collective power to monitor, collect information and report suspicious activity that might be related to illicit drugs to authorities. We will take back our ancestral lands for positive use by our Seneca members.
6. Collaborate with the Seneca Nation Government, SNI Marshals, the SNI Drug Task Force, as well as other law enforcement agencies to share information relevant to the drug epidemic.

Our Seneca rights and privileges are being appropriated by these drug dealers for their own use in drug trafficking, sex trafficking of our women/men and we have reason to believe that even our children are involved in illegal drug activities. These drug dealers have threatened harm to our residents that speak out. As Cedric Cobb (featured on our Billboards) told SMAD members directly during our first protest in 2020 that, he pays for protection to operate, and we can’t get rid of him, and he owns this place. Although excluded from our Territory, he is spotted at many of the drug houses and has been reported to be living with one of our Seneca women on Seneca Territory.

Cedric Cobb told us that if we shut down a drug house, the dealers and their patrons would be back the very next day, our people have no power. Without enforcement of existing laws and the lack of increased legal authority for the Marshals, our lands have become a safe haven for criminals, unchecked, leaving our Nation and its citizens vulnerable.

What have we learned about drug trafficking in our Territories?

Here is a brief list of what we have seen and what has been shared by community members. It is shocking, overwhelming, and frustrating but SMAD is filled with purpose.

1. Drug paraphernalia is strewn across our Territories. We’ve witnessed used needles along our roadsides, on lawns, at public and recreational areas.
2. The community has helped identify over 20 homes that allegedly engage on drug trafficking and or drug use in the Cattaraugus Territory alone.
3. Many, but not all, of the medical transportation vehicles licensed as livery vehicles with LV and LY on the license plates are reportedly contributing to the drug problem. Many of the medical transports were operating unlicensed by the Seneca Nation. These vehicles park overnight and on weekends at alleged drug houses well beyond their hours of operation for medical transport. Those attending Medically treated Addiction Programs for their addictions and utilizing the livery vans get paid $75.00 to use certain transport companies. How can our people with addictions succeed in recovery when they are being incentivized to remain addicted and in treatment?
4. In our SMAD patrols we have witnessed teens as young as 14 years old at these alleged drug houses in the middle of the night. Yes, calls have been made to CPS, but little could be done during COVID safety protocols.
5. Our addicted face homelessness. They might have strained every family and friend relationship and have no recourse to escape homelessness, their only option is to bounce from one drug house to another. Adequate shelter is a globally recognized human right; the Seneca Nation needs to explore solutions for homelessness.
6. Current treatment facilities that our addicted have access to are in high demand and often have no vacant beds when a person chooses recovery. The long wait for a bed and pain from detox/withdrawal often propel people back into drug use. SMAD has advocated for reserving beds at a culturally competent treatment facility to ensure availability.

If every resident pays attention to what happens in their neighborhood, and if they report suspicious people and activity, then we might see some real progress to keep our homes and our families safe and secure.

If you see something, say something.