Nya:wëh sgë:nö’ my fellow Senecas, and happy Spring!
Pictured above: President Seneca & First Lady attend Seneca Impact Day.
This week, I’d like to introduce another member of the President’s Office Staff: Administrative Assistant to the President, Olivia Maybee (pictured left). Olivia is an organized, dedicated, and efficient member of my team. Some of her duties include attending meetings and taking notes on my behalf, reviewing monthly Directors’ Reports, and communicating with departments. Olivia organized our first ever Quarterly Directors Meetings. She also helps with organizing and decorating the office, arranging luncheons, planning events, managing meetings and calendars. As an award-winning artist, she creates graphics and designs items, such as our Impact Day badges and upcoming beautiful Seneca Nation Challenge coins.
Olivia is a member of the deer clan from the Cattaraugus territory and the daughter of Nicole and myself. She graduated from Lake Shore Central, then continued her education at McKendree University in Illinois, where she earned scholarships in art and lacrosse. Olivia later transferred to Adelphi University on Long Island, earning a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Business Management.
Currently, Olivia is a member of the Native Roots Artist Guild and a student at the Buffalo Institute of Contemporary Art (BICA). She is also a past member of the Kappa Pi Art Fraternity, Honor Society, and the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, where she has held various leadership positions.
Olivia’s background in management and the arts has provided her with a wide range of experiences in community organization, gallery and event curation, and business development. It is a joy to have her as part of my executive team.
They say “March comes in like a lion, out like a lamb,” and my schedule certainly reflects that so far!
On March 1st, I traveled to Key Biscayne, Florida, for the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) Winter Meeting. There, I had the opportunity to meet with many congressional Republican leaders, including my friend Senator Ryan Zeinke from Montana, alongside legal counsel to the President, Rob Porter, and Councillor Odie Porter.
Meanwhile, First Lady Nicole Seneca and three of our staff members participated in the Matrilineal Symposium in Syracuse, where we were proud sponsors.
On March 8th, the Seneca Nation’s council was successfully live-streamed, and we celebrated National Women’s Day by providing flowers for our female attendees. It was a historic day, as two significant resolutions were passed by the council.
The first was to “Pursue Federal Legislation to Replace Allegany Territory Lands Taken by the United States for the Kinzua Dam and Reservoir.” The second resolution approved the “Urgent Immediate Act By City Of Olean To Halt Further Pollution of Ohi:yo’.” We followed up on this resolution with a strongly worded letter to Mayor William J. Aiello, which was read by Councillor Klint Nephew at the city Common Council meeting on March 11th. I plan to meet with Mayor Aiello within the next couple of weeks to discuss this important issue further.
On March 9th, the Katyohkwa Singers & Dancers, First Lady Nicole, our daughter Vera, and I attended the Variety Kids Telethon. We were delighted to present a donation of $10,000 to help transform, uplift, and enrich the lives of children facing illness, disability, and disadvantage in Western New York.
On March 10th, Councillors Todd Gates, Jonathan Williams, Odie Porter, Kevin Seneca, our legal team, and I traveled to Albany to meet with Governor Kathy Hochul. Our agenda addressed multiple issues, including:
• The historic mistreatment of our people; the Thomas Indian School
• The drug epidemic
• Law enforcement
• Thruway and Route 17 “unkept promises”
• Environment; Olean, Cattaraugus Creek, West Valley
• Economic Development
Each of these topics was well received by the Governor, resulting in her commitment to work with us and take actionable steps. A major promise made concerned the Thomas Indian School and the intergenerational trauma that continues to affect us today. The Governor pledged to apologize in the near future on behalf of New York State for the atrocities that occurred at this and other institutions.
From Albany, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Impact Week. There, alongside Treasurer Al George and Councillors Christian Reiller, Todd Gates, Moe John, and Lisa Maybee, I met with Tribal and Congressional leadership from across the Eastern U.S.
Following my time in D.C., I continued on to Florida, where I connected with a company that provides behavioral health and treatment services for youth ages 17 and under. I believe implementing similar services in our communities is essential for our healing processes.
On Monday, March 17, most of the Seneca Nation leadership traveled to Albany to prepare for our first-ever Seneca Impact Day. Upon arrival, we engaged with representatives from various sectors, including Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks & Recreation, Education, Thruway/Road & Bridge Repair, and Economic Development.
Tuesday began with a meeting at the NYS Police headquarters, followed by the arrival of numerous Seneca community members for Seneca Impact Day. We rented a banquet space for the afternoon, which hosted a press conference, information tables, cultural showcases, lunch, and welcomed many legislators who stopped by to engage with us. It was heartening to see and hear our concerns being prioritized at the Capitol; several legislators voiced their support for the Nation. (Seneca Media live-streamed the event, and you can find recordings on their social media platforms.)
After the festivities, several community members enjoyed a special tour of the Capitol, including seats on the Assembly Chamber floor, where we were able to experience the introduction of our Nation firsthand.
The following day, we had several meetings scheduled with relevant leadership to address each issue raised during our prior meeting with Governor Hochul. The agenda was extensive, covering critical topics such as Education, the Senate Native American Affairs Committee, Thruway and Bridge repair, discussions with Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins and WNY Senators Sean Ryan and April Baskins, Environmental concerns (including wastewater management and hunting/fishing rights), Compact/iGaming/Expansion, and Public Safety, including Drug Enforcement and Substance Abuse Treatment. Ultimately, these discussions and engagements are designed to heal and build relationships between the Seneca Nation and outside leadership. Working together, we can achieve great things and ensure the many needs of our people are met.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Foreign Relations Committee and my remarkable staff in the President’s Office for their exceptional planning of Impact Day. A special thanks to the Governor’s Deputy Secretary of First Nations, Dr. Elizabeth Rule, for coordinating and attending several of our meetings during our time at the Capital. Every detail was meticulously considered, and I truly cannot envision a more organized and successful experience in Albany.
I hope the first several days of spring have treated you well. Until next time!
~ JC
Check out the latest Presidential VIDEO PSA:
Dated March 28, 2025: In this week’s message, the President emphasizes the importance of continued vigilance and collective action to address the ongoing drug epidemic in our territories. The persistent influx of illegal drugs and criminal activity has had a devastating impact on our communities for years. It is crucial that we support our loved ones in seeking treatment and work together to eliminate this threat to our shared well-being. Check it out HERE!
