Ja:göh to the Seneca Nation Iroquois Sachem Youth Challenge Candidates on their successful completion and graduation from the Sachem Challenge 2025! Seneca Media shared some exciting footage from the challenge last week that’s available on our YouTube channel.
Graduates included the following:
- Samuel Loving, 14, Hanyahdë:h, son of Krisie Cooper. Target Archery (TIED) and Showdown Rifle challenge awards: 1st place Team, with Zada, and Rifle. Samuel prepared his Oratorical on Chief Red Jacket.
- Kanden Woods, 14, Hojoni’ga, son of Stephanie Young. Fitness, Scope Rifle shooting, and 3rd place Team, with George, Showdown challenge awards. Kanden prepared his Oratorical on Chief Hiawatha.
- Carter Scott, 14, Hanyahdë:h, Grandson of Nancy Scott. Iron Site Rifle and Showdown Archery challenge awards: 1st place Archery and 2nd place Team, with Tyrone. Carter prepared his Oratorical on Chief Cornplanter.
- Tyrone LeRoy, 13, Ho’nyögwaiyö’, son of Denise Williams and Brady LeRoy. Target Archery (TIED) and Showdown Archery challenge awards: 1st place Archery and 2nd place Team with Carter. Tyrone prepared his Oratorical on Ely S. Parker.
- George Johnny-John, 13, Hanyahdë:h, son of Yotz Johnny-John. Seneca Language, Attendance, Largest & Most Fish and 3rd place Team with Kanden, Showdown challenge awards.
- Zada Woods, 12, Gojoni’ga:’, daughter of Stephanie Young. Trapping, 1st place overall in the Showdown Challenge and 1st place Team with Samuel. Due to Zada’s excellent trapping skills, Instructor William “Billy” Abrams gifted her a hunting trap. Zada prepared her Oratorical on Chief Joseph.
- Jade Woods, 19, Gojoni’ga:’, daughter of Stephanie Young, and a previous graduate of the program, joined the Challenge Team as an Assistant Trainer. Jade was gifted a hunting bow.
The Iroquois Sachem Challenge is a six-week summer youth leadership program that teaches our teens, or Candidates, real-world life skills through the lens of resilience, environmental responsibility, and traditional knowledge.
With support from their families and Nation departments, candidates take on challenges like shelter-building, first aid, horse care, survival skills, and field & stream work—all while learning the importance of service, teamwork, and Indigenous stewardship.
During week five of the program, the Candidates are put to the ultimate challenge outdoors, where they build their own camping shelters to master their survival skills and take on a jam-packed schedule over the five day period in a controlled and supervised campground.
Check out the video for highlights of the final challenge and hear what the Candidates have to say about the program! https://youtu.be/SEd4Utd8nxo
Iroquois Post 1587 American Legion would like to thank the following personnel and departments for their contributions to the Iroquois Sachem Challenge:
- SNI DPW Director Allegany & Staff
- Seneca Nation Environmental Department
- Seneca Nation Conservation – Fish & Wildlife
- Seneca Nation Gakwi:yo:h Farms
- Jody LaMarca from Allegany Health Clinic
- Seneca Strong for providing canoes
- Travis Stafford: Hunting Party Smudge Blessing prior to Highbanks
- Highbanks Campground Staff
- Randolph Fish Hatchery Staff
- Bella Cook: Mini first aid class, caring for elders presentation, & anti-harassment & anti-bullying presentation, life personal skills & coaching
- Billy Abrams: Trapping Instruction
- DJ Huff for Seneca language support
- Leigh White: program Ribbon Shirt maker
- Ansley Jemison and Ganondagan State Historic Site
- Richard David Hamell: Wampum Belt maker & educator
