Seneca Nation President J.C. Seneca Joins St. Bonaventure in Acknowledging Land Status President, First Lady attend ceremony on Olean campus
CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, Irving, NY, Feb. 10, 2025 – Seneca Nation President J.C. Seneca Sunday accepted St. Bonaventure University’s historic acknowledgment that its campus in Olean, NY, is situated on Seneca land.
During a ceremony held before the university’s men’s basketball game against George Washington University, Father Stephen Mimnaugh, vice president for mission integration, highlighted the legacy of the Seneca Nation as “for generations… the stewards of the land,” that now constitutes the university’s 500-acre campus.
The University’s Statement read in full:
“With respect and contrition, we honor the Seneca Nation. Praised be You, our Creator, through our native friends. For generations, the Great Hill People and Keepers of the Western Door of the historic Haudenosaunee Confederacy have been the stewards of the land where St. Bonaventure University now resides. As we journey together, may we polish our covenant chain of friendship, in humility, reconciliation, and peace.”
President J.C. Seneca and First Lady, Nicole Seneca joined university President Jeff Gingerich for the midcourt ceremony, which later featured Layla Seneca, a cousin of the president, singing the “Star Spangled Banner.”
“On behalf of the Seneca Nation and all Senecas, I extend my heartfelt thanks to St. Bonaventure University and President Gingerich for this significant and timely acknowledgment of Seneca sovereignty and rights,” said President Seneca. “As Keepers of the Western Door, our people have historically lived across what is now known as Western New York. The recognition by one of New York’s most distinguished universities that acknowledges our historic land heritage is a powerful statement for which we are deeply grateful.”
Dr. Gingerich presented President Seneca with a framed print of the statement and a $1,000 donation to the Faithkeepers School in Steamburg. At the conclusion of the ceremony, President Seneca held the framed print above his head to acknowledge the standing ovation from the fans.
The event was attended by several Seneca Nation councilors and other dignitaries, while children from the Cattaraugus and Allegany Community Centers showcased their basketball skills during halftime.
This Land Acknowledgment Statement marks the university’s first commitment to the Seneca Nation following the formation of a joint committee in 2024 aimed at strengthening their partnership.
In 2021, St. Bonaventure University established a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies and received a $147,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to bolster its relationship with the Seneca Nation. The university has also hosted various Native American cultural events, including a September event featuring the Seneca Nation’s Indigenous Spirit Dancers. Notable initiatives include the recognition of the student founders of its Indigenous Student Confederacy during a Bonnies basketball game last November.
