Photos courtesy of cattco.gov
Pictured above: Cattaraugus Planning Board Members: Terry Hahn, Mike Zaprowski, Paul Mager, Tina Abrams, Mark Smith, Al Ormond, and Jim Valent
ALLEGANY TERRITORY, SALAMANCA, N.Y. – Seneca Nation Councilor Tina Abrams was recently recognized for her outstanding community leadership when she was presented the Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award by the Cattaraugus County Planning Board during its annual awards dinner. She is the first Seneca Nation member to receive the honor.
Presented annually since 1999, the Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award recognizes leaders who exemplify the outstanding spirit and example that longtime community leaders Torrance Brooks and Donald Patterson set during their lifetime of dedicated service to their communities. Award recipients are leaders and volunteers who make lasting contributions to the people and communities of Cattaraugus County and the region.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Cattaraugus County Planning Board for this recognition,” Councilor Abrams said. “I love this community, which is our shared home. The Seneca Nation plays an important role in Cattaraugus County and in the economy of the entire Western New York region. I believe it is important to be a voice for our shared interests and to champion advancements that will benefit the entire community.”
A voice of leadership within the Seneca Nation for decades, Councilor Abrams has been a member of the Seneca Nation Council since 2001 and was the first woman appointed as the Council’s Co-Chair in 2012. She plays a leadership role in the oversight of all Nation enterprises and monitors and advocates on federal and state legislation and policy that impact the Nation and all Indian Country. Within the Seneca community, Councilor Abrams also serves as chairperson of the annual Marvin “Joe” Curry Veterans PowWow, is a member of the Remember the Removal Committee and is chairwoman of the Seneca Nation Athletic Commission.
“The Nation is proud that Cattaraugus County is recognizing Tina for her leadership,” said Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca. “She is a vocal advocate who has represented our entire region with strength and passion for many years.”
Beyond Seneca Nation Territory, Councilor Abrams has held roles on the Cattaraugus County Planning Board since 2002, and on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors since 2021. She also served as Northeast Region Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians and served on the organization’s COVID Task Force.
“Tina Abrams exemplifies the values of community leadership, integrity, and service, reflecting the traditional teachings of her people,” the Cattaraugus County Planning Board stated. “Her diligent efforts have made a lasting impact on her community.”
A member of the Seneca Nation’s Wolf Clan, Councilor Abrams was raised on the Cattaraugus Territory and has lived on the Allegany Territory for more than 40 years.