1365 Resettlement Committee Hosts First Community Meeting, Shares Updates on Red House Reclamation Efforts
Committee members pictured L to R: Travis Heron, Madison Brown, Wendy Huff, Rebecca Bowen, Reesa Abrams, Bruce Abrams, and David Bova. (not pictured is Rodney Pierce).
On March 28, the Seneca Nation’s 1365 Resettlement Committee welcomed community members to its first official community meeting, held to share updates on the ongoing effort to reclaim Seneca lands within the Kinzua take area in the Red House Community. The meeting offered community members an opportunity to hear directly from Committee members, ask questions, and engage in open dialogue about the project’s progress.
The 1365 Resettlement Project is centered on the reclamation of Seneca Nation Territory that was encumbered following the construction of the Kinzua Dam in the 1960s. The dam’s development resulted in the forced removal of many Seneca families, the loss of homes, and the long-term disruption of community life. Today, the Committee is working to methodically assess and restore lands within the Red House community, which encompasses approximately 950 acres.
Recent engineering analyses have confirmed that this area lies above safe, livable elevation, an important milestone that enables planning to move forward. Building on this confirmation, the Committee continues to advance estate research, infrastructure evaluations, and other essential planning activities necessary to responsibly guide future phases of the project.
Committee members emphasized that this is an unprecedented process, one that requires careful consideration, collaboration across Seneca Nation departments, and ongoing guidance from Seneca Nation leadership. Although the work ahead is complex, the Committee remains committed to ensuring that each step is undertaken with transparency and respect for impacted families and descendants.
The work the current Committee builds upon the dedication of those who came before. Among the most significant contributors to this effort was Tyler Heron, who served as the founding Chairman of the 1365 Resettlement Committee. His leadership laid the groundwork for the executive action, community organization, and technical assessments that the current committee continues to build upon today.
As the Committee’s first public meeting, this gathering marks the beginning of a sustained effort to provide updates, share information, and create opportunities for community participation. The Committee will continue to identify additional avenues such as future meetings, information sessions, and public updates, to keep community members engaged as the project evolves.
Community members who believe their families may have historical ties to lands within the Red House area are encouraged to research their genealogy through the Clerks Office and connect with the surrogate’s court to review relevant records. Those seeking additional information or wishing to submit questions may contact the 1365 Resettlement Committee at 1365ResettlementCommittee@sni.org.
