This spring, hatchery staff completed the full walleye production cycle, including preparation, broodstock collection, spawning, incubation, and fry release.

The process starts with a full cleaning of the hatchery. Raceways, hatching jars, work surfaces, and windows are scrubbed, and debris is removed. Equipment is inspected at the same time, including oxygen tanks, tannic acid supplies, and nets. Any worn or damaged gear is repaired or replaced.

The electrofishing boat is prepared before collection begins. It is cleaned, batteries are installed, and both the generator and outboard motor are tested. Fluids are checked, safety and repair equipment is restocked, and fuel levels are topped off before launching.

Walleye are collected using electrofishing methods along the Allegheny River. Fish are gathered until enough males and females are secured, with additional effort focused on larger adults. Fish are transferred from the boat’s live well into a transport tank, then brought back to the hatchery and placed into holding raceways. Males and females are kept separate, and females are checked daily to determine when they are ready to spawn. Handling is kept brief to reduce stress and limit injury.

Next comes the spawning and fertilization process. When a female is ready, eggs are stripped into a bowl with a small amount of water. Milt from up to five males is added to each batch to support genetic diversity. The eggs and milt are mixed gently using a turkey feather to avoid damage.

Tannic acid is applied to remove the eggs’ natural stickiness and prevent sticking together. The eggs are then rinsed until the water runs clear and transferred into hatching jars. A constant flow of water keeps the eggs suspended during development.

Eggs hatch in approximately 30 days. Newly hatched fry swim to the surface for their first breath and then move into raceways for up to two days while absorbing their yolk sac.

Fry are counted using a graduated container marked in 100 milliliter increments. The measured volume is multiplied by 181 to estimate total numbers. (For example, 300 mL × 181 = 54,300 fry). Once counted, fry are placed into oxygenated bags and gradually acclimated to the temperature of the release site.

Fry are released near submerged Christmas tree structures installed during the winter. These structures provide both food and cover for young fish to have a better chance at survival.

After all releases are complete, the hatchery is deeply cleaned again in preparation for the off-season. Throughout the process, Conservation aims to handle walleye as little as possible; walleye do not feed well in captivity and prolonged handling increases stress and injury.

Nya:wëh to Fish & Wildlife for taking us along and for all you do to ensure these stocking initiatives are possible, your effort truly makes a difference!

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Councilor Abrams was selected by Senator Borrello in recognition of her decades of leadership, advocacy and service to the Seneca Nation and the broader Western New York community. She will be honored with the other 2026 Woman of Distinction honorees from across New York at a ceremony in Albany on May 5. A separate recognition ceremony in Western New York will be held at a future date.

“I am humbled to be chosen as a Woman of Distinction, and grateful to Senator Borrello for this incredible honor,” Abrams said. “This community is our shared home and serving the needs of the community is not an individual path. We all have a voice and an interest in seeing our community – and all of its residents – succeed, advance and grow.”

“Tina’s selection as a Woman of Distinction honoree is well-earned through her leadership and passionate service to our Nation and the greater community,” Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca added. “Senator Borrello knows well the importance of the Seneca Nation to the entire region, and I thank him for recognizing Tina in this way and for consistently being a partner and advocate for the Nation’s people and priorities in Albany, here at home, and within New York State government.”

The New York State Senate’s Woman of Distinction program was created to honor women whose achievements, leadership, and dedication have enriched the quality of life in their communities and across the state.

“The Woman of Distinction honor exists to shine a light on leaders whose contributions often go far beyond what headlines capture. Tina Abrams has spent more than two decades fighting for her community, her Nation, and Indigenous peoples across this country. Tina’s life and work are a testament to what it means to lead with purpose and principle. I am proud to recognize her as the 2026 Woman of Distinction for the 57th Senate District,” said Senator Borrello.

A voice of leadership within the Seneca Nation for decades, Councilor Abrams has been a member of the Seneca Nation Council since 2001 and was the first woman appointed as the Council’s Co-Chair in 2012. Throughout her career, she has played a leadership role in the oversight of Nation enterprises and has actively monitored and advocated on federal and state legislation and policy that impacts the Seneca Nation and all Indian Country. She formerly served as Northeast Region Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians and served on the organization’s COVID Task Force.

Within the Seneca community, Councilor Abrams also serves as chairperson of the annual Marvin “Joe” Curry Veterans PowWow, is a member of the Remember the Removal Committee and is chairwoman of the Seneca Nation Athletic Commission.

Beyond Seneca Nation Territory, Councilor Abrams has held roles on the Cattaraugus County Planning Board since 2002, and on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors since 2021.

In 2025, Councilor Abrams was honored as one of the “Living Trailblazing Women” by the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women as part of the Trailblazing Women of Western New York Monument Project, further recognition of a lifetime spent opening doors and creating lasting change. She also received the Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award from the Cattaraugus County Planning Board, the first Seneca Nation member to receive the honor.

A member of the Seneca Nation’s Wolf Clan, Councilor Abrams was raised on the Cattaraugus Territory and has lived on the Allegany Territory for more than 40 years. She and her husband, John, have three children and ten grandchildren.

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Spring is in the air, and Community Fair Week is just around the corner! Crafts, culture, food, and all kinds of fun for the whole family takes place April 6 through April 10, 2026.

Interested in being a vendor on Friday, April 10? Go to sni.org/education/community-fair-2026 for information on how to apply and to access the application.

*Schedule subject to change.

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• Time: 9am – 7pm

Polling/Voting Locations:

Allegany Territory – Seneca Fire
8184 East Loop Rd., Salamanca, NY 14779

Cattaraugus Territory – Seneca Fire
12879 Route 438, Irving, NY 14081

Eligible Enrolled Seneca voters 18 and older require a valid photo ID.

Upcoming VIRTUAL MEETING:

Due to recent public safety concerns, the upcoming In-Person Public Meetings regarding the Constitutional Amendment (Referendum) Questions, originally scheduled for March 3rd at Seneca Buffalo Creek and March 5th at Seneca Allegany, will now be held virtually on March 16th at 7 p.m. A link will be posted for enrolled Senecas with registration details soon.

All referendum questions and supporting materials are available at https://sni.org/about-our-government/referendum/.

Community members are encouraged to submit their questions to referendumqs@sni.org. 

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February 3, 2026 – ALLEGANY TERRITORY, SALAMANCA, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation is resetting its relationship with a key federal agency responsible for the forced relocation of its people 60 years ago to establish a foundation for meaningful dialogue in the future.

Nation leaders today hosted representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Pittsburgh District) on the Nation’s Allegany Territory. During a more than hourlong discussion, Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca and Col. Nicholas Melin, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes consultation procedures for a meaningful, timely and collaborative process when the Army Corps (Pittsburgh District) is planning and implementing civil works projects and programs that implicate or have a direct effect on the Nation and its members.

“Our agreement sets in place a framework that requires meaningful dialogue and consultation between the Army Corps and the Seneca Nation on matters that affect us.  This commitment has been lacking for decades,” President Seneca said. “This MOU does not mean that we will always agree, but I hope it leads to a better relationship and better results for the Seneca Nation and our people.”

“The Corps of Engineers is committed to realigning its partnership and rebuilding trust with the Seneca Nation,” said Col. Melin. “This Memorandum of Understanding sets the framework for us to navigate challenges together through open and meaningful consultation, collaboration, and communication.”

Today’s meeting follows a meeting between Nation leaders and Army Corps officials that took place in Washington last year, through the assistance and coordination of Congressman Nick Langworthy.

“It was clear to everyone at that meeting that the relationship between the Seneca Nation and the Army Corps needs to be better,” President Seneca added. “The consultation practices that had been followed previously were nominal and nothing that the Nation could reliably count on.”

The MOU comes as the Army Corps is preparing for an upcoming dam safety modification study to plan for the future of the Kinzua Dam, which was built in the 1960s to help alleviate flooding in Pittsburgh and provide cheap hydropower for downstream users. Approximately 10,000 acres of Nation land were taken by the United States over the Nation’s objection without just compensation, and hundreds of Seneca families were forced from their homes as part of the dam’s construction, despite the Nation and its engineering consultants presenting an alternative plan.

“It’s been more than 60 years since the devastating removal of our people and the loss and destruction of our lands. We were never justly compensated for that destruction,” President Seneca said. “Our people still suffer the pain and trauma associated with our forced removal from our own home. Any talk of rebuilding the dam reopens those wounds. If the Corps finds any concerns about the safety and condition of the dam, then in our opinion, it should be removed with a new dam built downstream. Under the framework of the MOU we signed today, the Nation will have meaningful input on what ultimately happens.”

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CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, IRVING, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation is taking a significant step to further amplify its voice in the 2026 election year.

Nation leaders have approved the formation of an Independent Expenditure Committee (IEC) with initial funding of $1 million. According to New York Election Law, an IEC is a political committee that only makes independent expenditures and does not coordinate with a candidate, candidate’s authorized committee, or an agent of a candidate.

In New York, there will be elections for Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General and all 213 seats in the New York State Legislature in 2026.

“This is a critical election year in New York State,” said Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca. “As advocates for our people, we won’t let the important issues that impact the Seneca Nation get lost in Albany’s fray. Our voice will be heard.”

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January 16, 2026

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, IRVING, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation announced that key federal law enforcement legislation proposed and actively supported by Nation leaders has been officially introduced by Congressman Nick Langworthy.

The Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act is designed to address long-standing jurisdictional confusion that has compromised law enforcement activities on Nation lands. In particular, the legislation will nullify an outdated, ineffective decades-old law, passed by Congress in 1948, giving New York State criminal jurisdiction on Seneca lands.

“During the Indian Termination Era 80 years ago, Congress gave New York State criminal jurisdiction to prosecute and incarcerate the Seneca people. The Termination Era is over, but this law remains on the books,” said Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca. “We are thankful to Congressman Langworthy for introducing this legislation and working with us to improve the Seneca Nation’s public safety priorities. Our goal with this legislation is to restore the federal government’s treaty responsibility to work with the Seneca Nation to provide law enforcement services. Through cooperative law enforcement agreements, we can maximize our working relationship with outside governments to address the drug trafficking on our lands and other threats to the Seneca people, and create a pathway for the development of our own Seneca Nation law enforcement capabilities.”

“This outdated jurisdictional framework has created real-world public safety problems,” said Congressman Langworthy. “Our men and women in law enforcement are doing the best they can under challenging circumstances, but when authority is fragmented and accountability is unclear, resourceful criminals exploit the gaps and that’s exactly what we’ve seen happen. This legislation provides a targeted solution that respects tribal sovereignty, preserves federal oversight, and ensures that any change occurs only with mutual agreement. Most importantly, it will make our communities safer, and that is a goal we all share.”

The Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act removes New York State’s automatic criminal and civil jurisdiction over Seneca Nation lands established under the 1948 law, but only if both the Seneca Nation and the U.S. Attorney General agree in writing to such a change. The legislation does not mandate any immediate action; instead, it creates a clear legal mechanism to resolve jurisdictional confusion when all parties determine it is appropriate. By clarifying jurisdiction and enabling a more coordinated law enforcement framework, the legislation strengthens accountability, improves cooperation among authorities, and reduces opportunities for drug trafficking and other criminal activity to flourish due to legal uncertainty.

This is the second major piece of law enforcement legislation pursued by the Nation since President Seneca was elected in November 2024. Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill which Nation leaders presented and advocated for throughout 2025 amending Section 8 and adding a new Section 79 of New York Indian Law. The new law clarifies existing law, enabling the Seneca Nation to better work in coordinated partnership with New York State Police, County Sheriffs and City of Salamanca police in removing non-Native intruders engaged in drug trafficking and other illicit activities from the Seneca Nation’s sovereign territories. “Public safety has been a priority issue of ours from the day I was sworn in,” President Seneca said. “The Seneca Nation is going to advocate for Congress to support Congressman Langworthy’s legislation and pass the Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act. This bill, like the new state legislation we recently secured, provides the Seneca Nation another long-needed tool for improving law enforcement on our lands. We will continue to take every possible measure to protect our people and our territories.”

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Welcome to our first newsletter of 2026! I hope everyone had a nice New Year celebration and is ready for a great year ahead.

For our Seneca Nation government, advocacy will continue to be a key focus this year. For me, that starts here at home. I want to thank everyone who came out for my Cocoa & Conversation discussion in Cattaraugus last night. As President, it is important for me to hear from our people about your concerns, ideas and suggestions. It is just as important for you to hear directly from me on the priorities of my administration and everything I hope to accomplish in my remaining months in office.

On the legislative advocacy front, we had some strong accomplishments last year, including a historic visit and apology from New York State for the atrocities that occurred at the Thomas Indian School, and the passage of important new law enforcement legislation that will help in our ongoing battle against illegal drug activity and drug dealers on our territories.

We have many state legislative priorities for 2026, including: continuing to strengthen law enforcement on our territories; addressing environmental concerns; making sure Governor Hochul follows through on her commitment to direct educational resources toward including Haudenosaunee culture and history in New York’s public education curriculum, as well as advocating for funding to strengthen our Language and Immersion programs on territory; and, of course, securing a new Compact agreement.

We’ve already hit the ground running. A traveling team of Nation officials and representatives were in Albany earlier this week for the Governor’s annual State of the State Address. We will be making our presence felt and our voice heard in Albany throughout this year’s Legislative session and, just as important, in New York’s electoral process. Anyone who wants to be Governor should be prepared to work fairly and honestly with the Seneca Nation and to prioritize our issues and the needs of our people.

Likewise, we have many key issues we are going to work on at the federal level. Law enforcement measures and the future of the Kinzua Dam and its lasting impacts on our Nation are just a few matters on which we are already working. We will be traveling to Washington later this month to continue taking our message to federal officials on Capitol Hill.

In addition to our advocacy efforts, Nation members are being asked to provide input on two important community matters. Our Community Planning & Development Department is conducting a survey for a study on potential Urgent Care and Medication-Assisted Treatment services in Salamanca. The survey can be accessed online at https://tinyurl.com/SNUrgentCareSurvey. There is also a QR code available on the Seneca Media & Communications Center Facebook page. For more information, contact Community Planning & Development at 716-945-1790, ext. 3018 or cpdd@sni.org.

Also, the Seneca Nation Environmental Protection Department is asking for public comment on its Draft Water Quality Standards. The proposed standards establish clear and enforceable criteria to protect all waters within the Nation’s exterior boundaries. We have all seen and experienced how our waterways have been abused by external forces over the years, impacting our free use and enjoyment of our lands and our quality of life. We will always stand in defense of the waters and work to protect Mother Earth from these abuses. The EPD will be holding public hearings to discuss the Draft Water Quality Standards on January 28 on the Allegany Territory, and February 11 in Cattaraugus. The comment period runs until February 26. Please make your voice heard. For more information, contact EPD at 716-532-2536, ext. 5474 or email Jordan Buffalo at jordan.buffalo@sni.org.

Finally, I hope everyone has a case of Knighthawks fever! Our Rochester Knighthawks beat the Buffalo Bandits 12-9 at Blue Cross Arena last weekend, and our own Zed Williams had a natural hat trick in the victory! A record crowd of 8,546 – the largest in franchise history – was in the building for the first meeting of what we hope turns into an energetic rivalry between our teams. There has been great energy and Seneca representation at the Knighthawks’ home games this season, including the Haudenosaunee anthem being played before the game and our Color Guard from Iroquois Post 1587 presenting the colors. Let’s go ‘Hawks!

I look forward to working with our Council, Nation Executives, and all of you to make 2026 a year of great accomplishments for the Seneca Nation.

Until next time,
J.C.

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The gatherings focused on healing, accountability, and strengthening individuals, families, and communities through honest reflection and open discussion. Both speakers brought perspectives rooted in lived experience, cultural knowledge, and long-standing work within Native communities.

Pooley, a Hopi and Navajo tribal member, is known for his work as a counselor and national speaker focused on trauma, family wellness, and healing within Native communities.

During the sessions, he spoke about how unresolved trauma can shape behavior, relationships, and decision making. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging pain directly and learning healthier ways to respond, rather than avoiding or suppressing difficult emotions. He stressed that healing is an ongoing process that requires effort, honesty, and support from others.

Tom Porter, a respected Mohawk elder and speaker, shared teachings grounded in Indigenous values and cultural understanding. His teachings focused on balance, respect, and the importance of maintaining strong connections to culture, community, and one another. Porter spoke about the role of traditional teachings in guiding people through challenges and restoring harmony in both personal and collective life.

Pooley’s message centered on responsibility and self-awareness, encouraging participants to reflect on how healing is not only personal, but also impacts families and future generations. He says, “When we heal families, we can heal a nation”.

Attendee Gina Maybee said “A message from Tom Porter that resonated with me most was to not be resentful about the way our parents raised us, or grandparents, especially if they didn’t show affection. Have compassion for them because they weren’t taught how to be loving, nurturing parents. Those skills were taken away from them during the Residential school era, and they never experienced those displays of affection.”

Together, Pooley and Porter created space for meaningful dialogue, encouraging participants to listen, reflect, and engage with one another in a respectful environment. Rather than offering quick solutions, the sessions emphasized long-term growth, accountability, and the importance of community support in the healing process. They said we are worth more than the worst mistake we’ve ever made.

Weso’ Nya:wëh to our guest speakers, Albert Pooley and Tom Porter, President Seneca, Councilors and Executives, all the departments, community partners, and especially our community members.

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