Cattaraugus Territory
By Norah Stevens, Catt. Newsletter Reporter
On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the Cattaraugus Seneca Strong held an open house to showcase their new location at 86 Iroquois Drive, Irving, NY 14081. This is located behind the Seneca Nation Housing Authority Laundromat.
Attending the open house, we had the opportunity to speak with Dawn Colburn, Opioid Response Director, who has been with the department since 2015, along with Seneca Strong Cattaraugus staff. She did share that the staff has grown as new members joined the team. All staff members have recently completed their Peer Recovery Certification Training. Since moving to the new location, they have had the opportunity to help more community members get back to the path of recovery and have plans to rebrand how they can support those who need it and help them heal their traumas as that is one of the roots of these challenges with addiction. This approach stems from understanding the ongoing healing of trauma for true wellness, resilience and lasting recovery.
We also had the opportunity to meet with Lauryn Williams, Seneca Strong Supervisor, who has been with the program since 2020. Lauryn mentioned that she has noticed many improvements in the department in the last six months alone through new activities and programming. She wanted to convey the message that Seneca Strong is here to help. They are not here to force or mandate anything but when you are ready, they are here to support your journey in getting you where you need to be. She believes that doing more outreach on territory and surrounding areas is important as to educate the community on these topics and try to destigmatize addiction as support is critical. Going on to say that the end goal is to maintain and sustain recovery.
Seneca Strong has an expansion in the services they can offer as healing opportunities for all community members. The following is what they offer:
- Talking Circles: Supportive gatherings for sharing, listening and mutual encouragement.
- Traditional Music, Dance, and Ceremony: Reconnecting with ancestral practices to restore balance and joy.
- Cultural Arts and Crafts: Creative expression as a path to self-discovery, pride and emotional release.
The program always has some creative services they will be implementing in the future:
- Creative Writing & Storytelling: Safe spaces to process and share person experiences, fostering understanding and connection.
- Cultural Education: Workshops on tribal history, values, and resilience to strengthen identity and community bonds.
- Indigenous Foodways and Land-Based Healing: Nourishing body and spirit through traditional foods & reconnecting to the land.
- Language Revitalization: Reclaiming language as a source of strength.
- Trauma Informed Support: Services designed to address grief, loss, violence, and other forms of trauma regardless of whether addiction is present or not.
- Family Healing at Home: Practical guidance and support for how to heal family relationships within your own four walls. Workshops and resources focus on communication, forgiveness, setting healthy boundaries, and creating a nurturing home environment where healing can begin and grow.
The current hours for the program are Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Seneca Strong added that hours of operation will be extended into evenings and weekends as they have more trained staff, be on the lookout for those changes.
For more information you can contact them at: (716) 582-0815, 86 Iroquois Drive, Irving, NY 14081.
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Women’s & Men’s Talking Circle
Check out these upcoming events at the Buffalo Creek Office hosted by Seneca Strong
