Nya:wëh Sgë:nö’,
Welcome to September! I hope all of our students, teachers and parents have been enjoying a smooth start to the new school year, as students have returned to classrooms and campuses over the last few weeks.
Even though we are in the last few official days of summer, September is an important time in our community, with several important events taking place. This weekend marks our 50th Annual Fall Festival. It is amazing that this treasured celebration of our community is now half a century old. On behalf of our Nation, I want to thank the countless volunteers and organizers who have helped build the Fall festival into the important gathering it has become over the past 50 years. I hope that many of them will be in attendance at the Alumni Dinner, and that everyone from our community will be out participating and enjoying the many activities taking place throughout the entire weekend. The Fall Fest theme this year is “Past, Present and Future…Honoring our traditions is honoring our future!” We all know how our traditions have helped define us and strengthen us throughout history and across generations. Let’s keep our traditions strong so that we can continue to build a strong, bright future rooted in our Seneca history.
Once Fall Festival is over, it will be time for another important gathering – our annual Remember the Removal events in Allegany. September is officially recognized as “Remember the Removal Month” in the Seneca Nation – a time specifically set aside to remember one of the most disturbing and egregious attacks on our people, our land, and our sovereignty.
It has now been more than 60 years since hundreds of Seneca families were forced from their homes and 10,000 acres of our land were taken from us to make way for the construction of the Kinzua Dam. Our Nation was forever changed by the United States’ betrayal that saw our homes bulldozed and burned, our sacred sites drowned, and our lands flooded. That scar, like those from many other wounds suffered by our before and since, will never heal. It is important that we always remember what happened, and remember what we lost. It is also important that we take heart in the resilience and perseverance of our ancestors and elders. Kinzua was supposed to mark the end of our people. Yet, here we are. The lasting impact of what happened at Kinzua is our collective determination that such an attack will never happen again.
This year’s schedule of events includes a Social at the Salamanca High School and on September 19, the premiere of “The Burning of My Coldspring Home,” a movie which shares the experience of Elder and former Seneca Nation Councilor Steve Gordon and his family who were forced to relocate. Then, the annual remember the Removal Walk will be held on September 27. I look forward to sharing these important events with you.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our people and Nation.
Until next time,
J.C.
