Heyhey Nya:wëh Sgë:nö’,
This is my last newsletter message as Seneca Nation President. As I look back on the last two years, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our people and I am proud of the many things that we accomplished together during my term.
I have many people to thank, starting with you – the Seneca community. Nya:wëh for giving me the honor to lead our Nation and to serve you as your President. It has truly been the honor of my life. I have dedicated every day that I have been in office to doing what was best for our Nation, our people and our future generations. You were my guiding thought in everything I did and every decision I made.
I want to thank my team in President’s Office for their hard work and commitment to our Nation. They have done an exceptional job of staying informed and connected to our community and working hard to address every issue. They have impressed me with the dedication and follow-through. I am beyond proud to work alongside them.
Nya:wëh, as well, to our Nation Executives and Council. As partners in our Nation’s government, we share a great responsibility in serving the needs of our people and preparing the way for future Senecas. We have not always agreed, but we have all worked toward the same goal of building a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant Seneca Nation for generations to come.
And I especially want to thank my wife, Nicole, and our children for their patience and understanding. The demands of being Seneca Nation President require a great deal of travel, sacrifice and time away from home. My family has been incredibly supportive over the last two years. I am beyond blessed and grateful for all they do for me.
The two years between November 2024, when I took my oath as President, and today have been filled with many important moments, initiatives and accomplishments, including.
Safety, Security and Support at Home
In my first month as President, I signed several Executive Orders to exclude drug traffickers and other undesirables from Nation territory. We also established an Opioid Recovery Department and appointed a Director to coordinate drug abuse prevention, care, and rehab services for Senecas afflicted with drug abuse. In 2025, we convened a major Law Enforcement Summit on the Allegany Territory with senior U.S. Justice Department and Interior Department officials, NYS Police, County Sheriffs and City police to address the drug trafficking threat on our territories. Brian Mohr, a retired county sheriff’s deputy with experience working with the Nation, was later hired as the Seneca Nation’s first Law Enforcement Commissioner to coordinate all Nation law enforcement efforts.
Through our advocacy efforts in Albany, we secured the passage and enactment of NYS Indian Law Section 8 Intruder Removal legislation and Section 79, strengthening the Nation’s authority to remove non-Indian drug traffickers, drug dealers and other intruders from our lands. At the federal level, the Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act, a landmark piece of legislation that will repeal 25 U.S.C. 232, a Termination Era law which gave criminal jurisdiction to NYS over Seneca people and lands, has been introduced in Congress by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Nick Langworthy, and is currently making its way through the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Expanding and Protecting Our Lands and Economy
Any discussion related to our lands must reflect the historical losses we have suffered throughout history, including the Kinzua removal from the 1960s. Last year, I issued an Executive Order to void the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ closure order and declare Seneca lands taken for the Kinzua Reservoir open for settlement by the Seneca Nation. I also met with Army Corps officials in Washington to voice our opposition to the proposed efforts to repair and rebuild the Kinzua Dam, and to facilitate dialogue on lowering the take area elevation from 1365 feet to 1340 feet. This dialogue led to a Memorandum of Understanding between the Seneca Nation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish procedures and protocols for discussions related to the Kinzua Dam and Reservoir, including the potential reclaiming of lands taken for the reservoir. As an important nest step, we are currently pursuing federal legislation to secure existing federal lands for the Seneca Nation as restoration of lands taken from us by the United States during the Kinzua removal.
We also secured new lands for our Nation through the donation of 207 acres of land on Grand Island from the Huntress family. We have been in productive dialogue with leaders in Grand Island for building a collaborative relationship between our governments as the Seneca Nation plans for the future of this sovereign land and other potential economic development opportunities within the Town. I believe our sovereign 207-acre parcel holds tremendous opportunity for our future.
In Allegany, the Nation stood up and demanded tangible action from our neighbors in Olean to address the longstanding problem of sewage overflows into the Ohi:yo’ from the City’s wastewater treatment infrastructure. We formed a joint Nation-City Task force to address this critical issue head-on and successfully lobbied for a $500,000 grant from the New York State DEC for Olean to plan and implement wastewater upgrades and improvements to end the contamination of the river. The upgrades were captured in a new Consent Order that requires the upgrades to be completed on a vastly accelerated schedule.
In building and strengthening our Nation’s economy, we began developing a strong relationship with government and business leaders in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. This included our historic purchase of the Rochester Knighthawks National Lacrosse League franchise through Seneca Holdings, securing the team’s presence in Rochester. With the support of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, we have been exploring economic development opportunities and possible Nation investments in Rochester, as well as building collaborative relationships with city leaders in an effort to reconnect with our Seneca homelands in the Genesee Valley.
In Buffalo, we began construction of a new project to include a Seneca One Stop fuel station and convenience store, a Nativa Cannabis dispensary, and space for a food service partner on sovereign Seneca land in the Old First Ward neighborhood. We are also standing up to efforts by Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan to deny our rights to develop our sovereign lands in the best way we see fit for the benefit of our people. We will not let Sean Ryan – or anyone – stand in the way of our sovereignty.
Diplomacy and Advocacy
We made our voice heard in Albany and Washington, making several trips to both capitals to meet with officials at the highest levels of state and federal governments. Among our visits to Albany, we conducted three Seneca Impact Day events and I twice testified before the New York State Senate State-Native Relations Subcommittee to advocate for priority issues and to educate state leaders on matters impacting the Seneca people.
In May 2025, the New York State Senate, through the leadership of Senator George Borrello, passed a resolution recognizing and apologizing for the atrocities that occurred at the Thomas Indian School under the state’s ownership. That was followed by a visit to the Cattaraugus Territory by Governor Kathy Hochul, who met with Thomas Indian School survivors and family members and then issued an official apology to the Seneca Nation on behalf of the State of New York.
We listened to the voice of our people and your thoughts on a new Class III gaming Compact – the People’s Compact. And we held firm to our stance throughout prolonged negotiations with Governor Hochul’s team, reaching an agreement in principle that includes no revenue sharing provision. This new agreement will put the Seneca Nation in control of our own destiny.
In Washington, we had meetings with members of Congress and members of the Trump Administration to push for funding and legislative priorities, assistance with the drug trafficking onslaught our people are facing on our territories, and to demand the federal government help the Nation address the continued hostility we face from New York State. This includes efforts to reclaim more than $800 million in disputed revenue share payments that the State of New York has stolen from our people.
We also held a delegation summit meeting with state and local representatives from Western New York in Niagara Falls, and a Rochester area summit at Ganondagan in Victor. These meetings helped building greater understanding and awareness of our Nation, our culture, the important economic role we play in the region, and our priorities moving forward.
Moving Forward
The work on these and other priority issues is critical to our Nation’s sovereignty, our quality of life, our economic position, and our future. As I leave office, I want to wish good luck to the next administration, Council and Executives as they take the reins of leadership on behalf of all 8,600 Senecas. I am sure they will have good days and difficult days, as there are many exciting opportunities, as well as difficult challenges, ahead. I hope they lean into the example of leadership, strength and resilience provided by our ancestors and leaders throughout our history. Their challenges are our challenges, and their success is our success. I will be watching and, as always, rooting and pushing for the success and advancement of the Seneca Nation – now and always.
For now, let me again say nya:wëh for giving me your trust, confidence and support for the past two years. I hope that everyone has a safe and happy rest of 2026 and please remember to take extra care to look out for all of the young trick-or-treaters who will be out celebrating Halloween this weekend.
Until next time,
J.C.
