Heyhey Nya:wëh Sgë:nö’,
I hope everyone has been enjoying the first few weeks of summer. We have had some exciting developments in our community over the last few weeks.
First, special congratulations to Allegany Deputy Marshal Nikolas Milks, who graduated from the USPIA (United States Police Indian Academy) Class 197! Nik completed the rigorous 13.5-week Indian Country Police Officer Training Program (ICPOTP) in Artesia, New Mexico, dedicating nearly 600 hours to mastering essential law enforcement skills. His training included everything from emergency response and marksmanship to community policing, victim services, and hands-on field exercises—preparing him to serve and protect our community with excellence. Ja:göh Nik!
We also celebrated the start of an exciting new chapter for our Elders, with the grand opening of brand-new Elder’s housing units in Steamburg on the Allegany Territory. These modern homes offer safe, independent living for our Elders, allowing residents of the 44 Seneca Elder Complex to leave behind a building on an EPA-designated Brownfield site in the City of Salamanca and transition to a healthier, environmentally safer home. This milestone marks the continuation of the Nation’s ongoing commitment to providing our Elders with the respect, care, and quality of life they deserve. Nya:wëh to everyone who made this possible!
In Cattaraugus, we celebrated the official opening of our new transfer station. The transfer station is a centralized location where community members can safely drop off non-household waste & large items for proper disposal and recycling, supporting our focus on maintaining a cleaner, environmentally-conscious community. Regular operating hours are Monday – Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. – Noon on the third Saturday of every month. Large items are only being accepted at this time. Tickets are available at the Seneca One Stop for $5, $10, or $20, depending on vehicle load size. For more info, visit https://sni.org/community-services/environmental-protection/ or call 716-682-0233.
Meanwhile, construction at the Lionel R. John Health Center in Allegany continues. In order to accommodate the work currently taking place, the main entrance and main parking lot will be closed for the next several weeks. The rear entrance, located off R.C. Hoag Drive, is now being utilized as the public entrance, and patient parking is available in the rear parking lot. The main entrance and main parking lot are expected to re-open in late October.
Finally, this weekend is our annual Marvin “Joe” Curry Veterans Powwow at the Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino! Family, friends and guests from across Indian Country and neighbors from throughout the area will be here on Seneca Territory celebrating our culture, honoring our Veterans and enjoying the spirit of community.
As we get ready for the Powwow, we remember our great friend Joe Curry, who dedicated his life first to serving the country and then to serving his fellow Veterans. Joe was a remarkable man who left an indelible mark on the Seneca Nation and well beyond. Let us remember Joe and all of our Veterans this weekend and honor them for their bravery and service.
I want to wish good luck to all of the contestants who will be dancing, drumming and singing throughout the weekend and I want to thank our Powwow Committee and volunteers for their hard work and dedication in making this important celebration of our culture and heritage a success.
See you at the Powwow!
Until next time,
J.C.
