August 4, 2026

VICTOR, N.Y. – Elected leaders from the Seneca Nation welcomed federal, state and local elected officials and staff representatives to a portion of the Nation’s ancestral homelands for an afternoon of relationship building and conversation.

Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca and several members of the Seneca Nation Council met with officials from throughout the Rochester-area at the Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor. A National Historic Landmark, Ganondagan is the original site of a 17^th century Seneca town that existed there more than 350 years ago. Throughout the day, Seneca Nation leaders and the Rochester-area officials in attendance discussed a wide range of issues, including Seneca Nation history and its economic leadership in western New York, as well as matters of mutual interest.

“The Rochester region and the Genesee Valley are part of our ancestral home. We believe the Seneca Nation can be a strong part of the region’s future and vice versa,” President Seneca said. “Any path forward has to be built on knowing and understanding one another. That’s what today’s meeting was focused on. We hope to have more conversations like this in the future.”

Last year, the Seneca Nation made a significant investment in Rochester with the purchase of the Rochester Knighthawks National Lacrosse League franchise. Over the past year, President Seneca has worked to develop the Nation’s business and government relationships in the region.

“In many ways, acquiring the Knighthawks was a reintroduction for the Seneca Nation to this part of our ancestral home. The reception we have received has been fantastic, and we think we can do more,” he said. “As a sovereign government, we always try to build strong relationships with our neighbors. We also have matters that are important to our Nation and our people that outside governments need to understand. In addition, as an economic leader, we are always interested in exploring ways to further the impact we can have in Rochester.”

The Seneca people have lived on the lands in what is today the western part of New York State for time immemorial, and have made countless contributions to the region’s history, culture, and economy. Between its government operations and business enterprises, the Seneca Nation provides an economic impact to the Western New York region of nearly $2 billion, making it one of the region’s most significant economic engines and largest employers. The Nation and its businesses provide thousands of direct jobs and support thousands of others through partnerships with a large network of vendors, suppliers, and contractors throughout New York.

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Honoring our Veterans and Service members in the Powwow circle July 17, 18, and 19. The Marvin “Joe” Curry Veterans Powwow is an annual contest powwow in honor of our veterans. Joe was a member of the Seneca Nation’s Snipe Clan and was born on the Cattaraugus Territory and dedicated member of the Iroquois Post #1587, our host Veterans Post.

Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Boatswain (Bos’n) Marvin Curry served on active duty in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1970. He was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, serving on eight ships during his distinguished career receiving many medals for his meritorious service to the nation. His many qualifications included deep-sea salvage and submarine rescue diver.

After his retirement from active duty, CWO Bos’n “Joe” Curry served as the original superintendent who established the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park from 1977 to 1997, supervising the refurbishment and maintenance of the park’s military surplus vessels, aircrafts and vehicles.

Joe played a critical role in recognizing the need for and importance of improving the quality-of-life for a large number of the Seneca Nation veterans and worked hard to establish a Veterans Affairs advocate initiative for the Seneca Nation. This effort was instrumental in allowing the Iroquois Post #1587 to enhance their prideful cultural immersion and community engagement efforts with a focus on youth and honoring and paying tribute to our native warriors.

The post The 35th Annual Seneca Veterans Powwow appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Visit senecapowwow.org for more information, or follow the Seneca Veterans Powwow Facebook page HERE for all the latest updates throughout the weekend.

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December 2024

• Immediately began planning outreach with Seneca people for Class III gaming compact background briefing and public meetings to obtain input in the process
• Established an Opioid Recovery Department and appointed a Director to coordinate drug abuse prevention, care, and rehab services for Senecas afflicted with drug abuse
• Filed a formal action request to the U.S. Department of Interior and National Indian Gaming Commission to reclaim $800 million in disputed revenue sharing payments and met with Assistant Secretary of Interior Bryan Newland and DOI officials, and NIGC officials. First of several trips to Washington DC for direct engagement
• Issued several Executive Orders to exclude drug traffickers and other undesirables from Nation territory

January 2025

• Supported and secured Council approval of $1,200 increase in annual Elders Benefit
• Made first of several trips to Albany to attend Governor Hochul’s State of State Address and hold press conference to give notice of Seneca political engagement on NYS issues
• Held initial public meetings to hear from the Seneca people on proposed Class III gaming compact terms, to hear their voice on issues used to develop a Peoples’ Compact to present to State, with no proposed revenue sharing to NYS
• Commenced active efforts to address NYS Thruway trespass litigation for the invalid 1954 right-of-way, including guiding litigation and developing dispute resolution proposals
• Began issuing Executive Orders to create committee system to conduct government activities (all chaired by the President)—
  o Business Council (Josh Jimerson, Vice Chair)
  o Compact Negotiating Committee (Kevin Seneca, Vice Chair)
  o Foreign Relations Committee (Odie Porter, Vice Chair)
  o Housing Committee (Geraldine Huff, Vice Chair)
  o Lands, Rights-of-Way, and Treaty Rights (Josh Becker, Vice Chair)
  o Public Safety Committee (Klint Nephew, Vice Chair)
  o Thruway Negotiating Committee (Todd Gates, Vice Chair)
• Issued Executive Orders to establish Constitutional Reform Working Group and to end taxation of tobacco and motor fuel through the Import-Export Law and redevelop Nation commerce department and regulation system

February 2025

• Traveled to Washington DC to attend NCAI, USET and to engage with Trump Administration and Members of Congress on federal program and health care funding, engaging on multiple issues affecting Seneca services and sovereignty
• Hosted WNY Delegation Summit with NYS and County officials in Niagara Falls to promote engagement and to mobilize NYS Senators and Assemblymembers to support Seneca Nation priorities, including the drug trafficking problem, pursuing economic development, and discussing gaming enterprise impacts

March 2025

• Met with Governor Hochul in Albany to present Seneca action priorities: (1) repair cultural and emotional damage on Seneca people from Thomas Indian School and request Governor apology, (2) escalate law enforcement efforts to stop drug trafficking, (3) mobilize health care resources for drug abuse victims; (4) end Ohi:yo contamination from Olean wastewater discharges, and (5) promote new economic development and revenue generation
• One week later, hosted Seneca Impact Day in Albany with Seneca community and NYS legislator participation. Met on Seneca issues with State Police Superintendent, Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, Director of Substance Abuse Services, and Empire State Development
• Secured Council authorization to pursue federal legislation to address drug trafficking and end NYS criminal jurisdiction over Senecas and to pursue NYS legislation to strengthen Nation’s ability to remove non-Indian intruders and drug traffickers
• Secured Council authorization to pursue legislation to secure 20,000 acres of federal land as restoration of lands taken by the US government for the Kinzua reservoir
• Issued Executive Order to void Army Corps closure order and declare lands taken for Kinzua Reservoir open for settlement

April 2025

• Engagement with NYS Senator George Borello on development of Thomas Indian School apology proclamation for atrocities committed against Seneca and other Native people
• Met with Olean Mayor William Aiello to address Ohi:yo contamination and formation of Joint Task Force to end the problem
• Traveled to Washington DC to lobby for Seneca priority issues, including meeting at the White House with director of intergovernmental relations
• Secured Council resolution directing enhanced 40/40 Lease enforcement to improve property maintenance, including Executive Order and letter to 40/40 lessees
• Council appointment of Allegany River Development Commission to improve Salamanca

May 2025

• Traveled to Albany to meet with and testify before NYS Senate State-Native Relations Subcommittee on Seneca priority issues
• Hosted visit by Governor Hochul who met with survivors of the Thomas Indian School atrocities and who issued a formal apology to the Seneca people and other Native peoples on behalf of the State
• Hosted Haudenosaunee lacrosse weekend on the Allegany Territory

June 2025

• Made formal request for direct negotiations with NYS on new Class III compact
• Engaged with NYSDEC and Olean Task Force to lobby for a $500,000 grant from NYSDEC for Olean to plan its wastewater upgrades to end Ohi:yo pollution
• Secured passage of NYS legislation to strengthen authority to remove non-Indian drug traffickers and other intruders, working with Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and then-Senator Sean Ryan

July 2025

• Convened major Law Enforcement Summit with senior U.S. Justice Department and Interior Department officials, NYS Police, County Sheriffs and City police to address drug trafficking threat. Based on prior meetings with U.S. Attorney in Buffalo, DEA, NYS Police Troop A, Cattaraugus and Erie County Sheriffs, and City of Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca police chiefs
• Met in Washington DC with US Army Corps Engineers (and hosted by Rep. Nick Langworthy) to discuss the proposed efforts to study the repair and re-building the Kinzua Dam, which is opposed by the Nation, and to facilitate dialogue on lowering the “take area” from an elevation of 1365’ to 1340

August 2025

• Met with Rochester Mayor Malik Evans to discuss Nation investments in the City, building collaborative relationships, and reconnecting in the Nation’s homeland of the Genesee Valley
• Established Seneca Nation business presence in Rochester by purchasing the Rochester Knighthawks professional indoor lacrosse team through Seneca Holdings
• Promoted economic expansion efforts in the eastern part of the Nation’s Aboriginal territory by traveling to the Finger Lakes area to meet with county industrial development officials about possible Nation investments, including discussion with Watkins Glen Raceway leadership and local businesspeople

September 2025

• Secured Council formation of 3-person committee to recommend and convene referendum to improve Nation government
• Participated in Remember the Removal events commemorating those lost due to Kinzua Dam construction

October 2025

• Entered into MOU with City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans to support mutual economic development efforts within the city limits
• Engaged with Rochester-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce to promote Rochester Knighthawks and other development opportunities to expand Nation economy
• Continued engagement with NYS regarding compact negotiations

November 2025

• Attended NCAI annual meeting to gain support on Nation initiatives of Kinzua Dam legislation and Law Enforcement legislation
• Research and travel to explore economic development opportunities in WNY

December 2025

• Secured donation of 207 acres of land on Grand Island, restoring the Nation’s historic connection to the islands in the Niagara River, with potential use for economic development and housing
• Secured gift of 7 acres of land from Seneca elder Marilyn Anderson near Nation office building complex. Commenced planning for Elder Living Center on those lands, with connectivity to Nation health center
• Secured enactment with Governor Hochul’s signature of NYS Indian Law Section 8 Intruder Removal legislation and Section 79 to authorize intergovernmental law enforcement agreements

January 2026

• Appointed to the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce board of directors to expand Nation business opportunities in City of Rochester and Monroe County
• Secured introduction of House bill H.R. 7065 by U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy, the Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Efficiency Act, to repeal 25 U.S.C. 232 which gave criminal jurisdiction to NYS over Seneca people and lands
• Hired Brian Mohr, a retired county sheriff’s deputy with experience working with the Nation, to the position of Law Enforcement Commissioner to coordinate all Nation law enforcement efforts

February 2026

• Signed Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish procedure and protocol for discussions relating to the Kinzua Dam and Reservoir, including potential reclamation of lands taken for the reservoir flowage easement

March 2026

• Secured Council approval of public safety agreement for Allegany Territory with Cattaraugus County Sheriff, to address drug trafficking activity and non-Indian intruders.
• Successful completion of Constitutional reform referendum with nearly 900 voters participating. Changes made were to increase the number of Surrogates for each territory, require judicial training, impose residency requirements for elected officials, and impose term limits.
• Served as guest speaker on Native ownership of professional sports teams at the National Center for American Indian Economic Development RES Conference and the Indian Gaming Association Annual Meeting.

April 2026

• Served as guest speaker at World Indigenous Cancer Conference in New Zealand.

May 2026

• Convened third Seneca Impact Day in Albany to educate NYS officials on issues facing the Seneca people.
• Testified before the NYS Senate State-Native Relations Subcommittee on issues facing the Seneca people, with emphasis on:
  o Pursuing NYS funding of Seneca language immersion schools for both Allegany and Cattaraugus territories to remedy the damaging effects of the boarding school era, including $1 million in feasibility funding.
  o Pursuing NYS funding for Prospect Street in Gowanda to open road access to the Indian Hill community.
• Hosted Environmental Conference in Niagara Falls Territory with EPA and DEC leadership to focus on:
  o Ohi:yo’ protection against Olean and Great Lakes Cheese Factory wastewater discharges
  o US Army Corps actions at Cattaraugus Creek break wall and Kinzua reservoir
  o NYS recognition of Seneca off-territory treaty hunting and fishing rights

June 2026

• Secured introduction of NYS legislation to repeal NYS criminal jurisdiction over Senecas
• Spoke at 300th anniversary of French Castle at Fort Niagara
• Secured development firm to design and coordinate economic development projects

Current and Future Activities

• Continuing efforts to conclude Class III compact negotiations with NYS
• Planning and development work for new senior living center on Cattaraugus Territory
• Identify and acquire new lands for economic development and housing
• Engage with federal and officials to enact 232 repeal legislation and Kinzua lands replacement legislation
• Secured Budget & Finance Committee approval for $1.40 minimum wage increase for all Nation employees

The post Activities Report to Seneca Nation Members appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

In 2021, a resolution was passed declaring June as Seneca Pride Month. This resolution also affirmed the right to nondiscrimination of Seneca LGBTQIA2S+ members, cementing the Nation’s commitment to “fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion, fairness, and equality, and [that] members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Pride month is a reminder that justice, decolonization, and liberation are deeply connected. June is a time to celebrate, learn, and stand in solidarity.

2026 marks the sixth year the Seneca Nation has raised a pride flag from a grassroots effort intiated by Olivia Maybee. Designed by Olivia, this flag incorporates the LGTBQ+, 2 spirit relatives, the Seneca and Indigenous community. Olivia pushed the flag raisings to give representation and inclusion of LGTBQ+ relatives on Seneca territories. Each year, the pride flag raising event continues to grow in participants, speakers, and support. If you would like to lend your support and effort to this yearly event, please email Olivia Maybee at Olivia.Maybee@sni.org or oliviamaybee99@gmail.com.

Speakers included Elias Bova-Schmidt, Esq., MSW, a first descendant Seneca from Ohi:yo’ and transgender. Elias is directly involved in LGBTQ+ organizations, and presents on behalf of the Center for Reproductive Rights specifically on Abortion Access in New York and Considerations for Trans Abortion Seekers. Taylor Seneca shared her lived experience and journey as a gay woman on Seneca territories. She is also a proud Indigenous sister, stepmother, friend, and daughter that is getting married to her long term partner soon while continuing to honor her community and culture. Juddson Logan shared traditional knowledge based on nature, equality, and love.

Olivia Maybee, Mitch Kelly, and Maria Maybee were speakers as well.

“We raise this flag today and remember that LGBTQ+ relatives have always here in our communities and communities across Turtle Island; honored, present and whole. It is an act of saying we belong to this Nation. You are a part of this fabric, and I am so thankful to have you all here,” shared Logan.

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The Seneca Nation declared May Seneca Women Acknowledgement and Recognition Month in 2014 at the regular session of council motioned by Christina Jimerson, seconded by Nikki Seneca. “Gegwidekneh is the season we give thanks to our thunderers, maple trees, seeds and planting. It is the month we celebrate Mother’s Day, a time we honor all symbols of Mothers is in May. Seneca women display kindness, strength, unity, and fierceness, they are the backbone of the Seneca people,” Council motion, 2014.

Seven Seneca women leaders past, present, and future will be featured for the month of May. These influential women are leading their own paths while staying connected to their roots, community, and traditions. Ja:göh!

PAST – Seneca Language & Culture

The late Phyllis Bardeau was a member of the deer clan and was born in Coldspring, NY to the late Dorothy Jimerson John. A fluent speaker of the Seneca language, Ms. Bardeau worked in Seneca language programs for 35 years teaching all levels from primary to adults. Her work was based on Seneca language, curriculum, and materials development. Ms. Bardeau was an instructor at State University of New York at Buffalo for many years. She developed a 4-semester syllabus to fulfill the university’s language requirement. She earned her master’s degree in 1994 and submitted her thesis, “Voice of the Seneca”. This work has served as the basis for the “Fundamentals of Seneca” instructional book which is currently being used.

In addition to writing several successful language grant proposals, Phyllis authored – the 300 Seneca word “New Reference Edition,” her most extensive project. This publication required 6 years of research both professionally and personally. Ms. Bardeau managed Seneca language programs in both the Allegany and Cattaraugus Seneca communities, as well as urban Buffalo.

Phyllis dedicated her professional career to Seneca language research and teacher training.

PAST – Education

Cynthia J. Mohr was a respected educator, mentor, and community member from Salamanca, New York, and a proud member of the Seneca Nation Heron Clan. She was born on June 6, 1955, to Frank and Norma Kennedy. Raised in a family deeply tied to the community, Cindy grew into someone whose life was marked by patience, kindness, and a natural ability to make people feel noticed, safe, and special.

Cindy graduated from Kenmore West High School and attended Buffalo State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Then to St. Bonaventure University for her master’s degree in education. She was the first Native American teacher in New York State to hold a dual certification in Elementary and Special Education.

In 1978, Cindy began her career at Prospect Elementary in Salamanca as a Special Education Teacher. She retired in 2014 after teaching 2nd grade for 32 years. Her work in the classroom went far beyond lesson plans and routines. She brought patience, gentleness, and a kind of care into the classroom that students could feel. Cindy’s encouragement stayed with students because she helped them build confidence in themselves. She pushed them to think for themselves, trust their own ideas, and believe they had something important to offer.

Cindy was loved at Prospect because of how she showed up for people every day. She brought that same care to her students, coworkers, family, and friends. It never took effort and was a part of who she was. Michala Redeye, a longtime friend and coworker of Cindy said, “I learned so much from her about being kind, loving, understanding, patient, a woman, a mother, a teacher, and friend.”

In June of 2020, Cindy passed away following complications from COVID-19. During that same heartbreaking time, her mother, Norma Kennedy, and her sister, Diane Kennedy, also passed away. Their losses are still felt deeply across the entire community.

In 2021 the Cynthia Mohr Memorial 5K Run/Walk was created in her memory. The money raised goes toward the Cynthia Mohr Scholarship Fund, helping students continue their education while carrying forward her love for learning. In 2022, the Cindy Mohr Memorial Library was dedicated in her honor at Prospect Elementary as a tribute to her legacy she left.

Cindy believed that “every child deserves someone who will never give up on them, someone who understands the power of connection and someone who insists that they can be the best that they can be.”

The 6th Annual Cindy Mohr Memorial 5K Run/Walk is scheduled to take place Saturday, June 6 at Veteran’s Park in Salamanca. Registration begins at 9:00 am and run begins at 10:00 am.

PRESENT – Art

Randee Spruce is using art and museum work to help change the way Seneca and Haudenosaunee stories are represented in museums. She is a multidisciplinary artist and independent curator from the Allegany Territory. Randee is Heron Clan.

Randee studied museum studies and studio arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a background that continues to shape both her curatorial work and artistic practice.

Spruce said her work in museums first began through curatorial work, where she became involved with collections management, conservation and collaborating with universities and museum professionals.

That experience eventually led her to larger projects, including an exhibition with the Corning Museum of Glass. She said the project was important because it marked the museum’s first time documenting Native American art within that international space.

She also worked with the Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, to help re-imagine its Haudenosaunee exhibit. For Spruce, the work is about more than displaying objects. It is about making sure the stories connected to them are represented accurately and respectfully. She said museum exhibits can sometimes make Native people appear as if they only belong to the past. Through her work, she wants people to understand that Seneca and Haudenosaunee communities are still here, still creating and still shaping their own narratives.

Spruce said being a Seneca woman means being part of a community and doing work that gives back to that community. She sees her artwork as one way to do that. Her pieces encourage curiosity about culture, ceremonies, language and even topics like mental health. Much of her inspiration comes from ancestral objects, historic beadwork and pottery designs that she studies through museum collections and carries into her own work.

Along with curating, Spruce continues focusing on her own artwork. She recently received a 2026 fellowship through the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for a project centered on substance abuse and alcoholism. She said those subjects are not always openly discussed, but they are real issues affecting Native communities and deserve attention.

She was also recently invited to the Carnegie International in Pittsburgh, where she was commissioned to create a flat purse using traditional Seneca beadwork techniques. Spruce said reviving older beadwork styles has become a major focus of hers. After first learning beadwork in high school, she returned to it more seriously around 2021 after studying historic pieces in museum collections and searching for antique beads and materials that are now difficult to find.

Beyond museums and galleries, Spruce said she hopes to continue being a positive example for younger Seneca women. She encourages them to follow their interests, trust their abilities and not be afraid to step into spaces that may feel intimidating. Through her art, curating and advocacy, Spruce is helping show younger generations that they belong in those spaces and can help shape them too.

FUTURE – Education

Olivia “Gawehnidi” Porter is a member of the Turtle Clan from the Seneca Allegany Territory. Her parents are Odie and Rob Porter. Olivia’s maternal grandparents are Carolyn Brant (Watt) and the late Randy Brant and my paternal grandmother is the late Lana Redeye.

She is currently studying for her master’s degree in philosophy at Stanford University and will be graduating this June. In the fall, Olivia will be starting a PhD at Brown University in Political Science with a focus on political theory. She has also secured the 2026-27 American Political Science Association Diversity Fellow. In addition to being a student, Olivia is a library assistant at the Stanford Philosophy Library, a Graduate Wellness and Engagement Coordinator at the Stanford Native American Cultural Center (NACC), and the former Vice President of the Stanford Native American Graduate Students (SNAGS).

As a staff member at the Stanford NACC, she engages with the Stanford Native community by organizing wellness and social events for the grad students. Olivia also collaborated with other centers on campus to bring Seneca artist, Randee Spruce, to give a presentation on Seneca beadwork at the NACC in March. This quarter she’s been organizing a biweekly showcase for Native graduate students to present their theses and projects they have been working on this school year.

She stays connected to her Seneca roots by going home for all breaks from school. Olivia has spent most of my summers at home since I started college and attempts to go to Longhouse for Strawberry Dance and Green Corn as her schedule allows. She also stays connected by doing beadwork in her free time at school.

Olivia feels most connected to home when I’m able to facetime with my grandma. Even if we can only talk for a few minutes, seeing her smiling face always makes me feel better when I’m feeling homesick. She also facetimes with her mom every single day because she’s her best friend and loves her dearly. Being so far from home has been difficult, but the Native friends that she’s made at Stanford who are from their own territories have become like her family away from home.

Olivia’s personal goal is to keep learning for the rest of her life, which is why she will pursue her PhD to become a professor. She also wants to learn more Seneca language starting with Ganö:nyök and continue learning Seneca basket making from her Aunt Nancy Toth. Her community goals include being involved with youth education. Olivia’s Indian Country goal is to connect the study of Native governments and tribal sovereignty with the field of political science.

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May 19, 2026 – ALBANY, N.Y. – Elected leaders and citizens from the Seneca Nation and other Native Nations within New York gathered in Albany today for a day filled with important discussions, advocacy, outreach and education.

Native Nations Day included a roundtable meeting for Native Nation leadership with the New York State Senate’s State-Native American Relations Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

The priorities discussed by the Seneca Nation throughout the hourlong session included Brownfield cleanup of a former railroad yard on the Allegany Territory, infrastructure funding for long-needed repairs of Prospect Street on the Cattaraugus Territory, economic development initiatives, and the need for New York State to actively support the revitalization of the traditional Seneca language, specifically through funding the construction and operation of Immersion Schools on the Nation’s Cattaraugus and Allegany territories.

“The State of New York spent 75 years funding and operating a school designed to eradicate our language, our culture and our very identity,” said Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca, referring to the Thomas Indian School, which New York State operated on the Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory from 1875-1957. “It is past time for the State to support the revitalization from the damage it caused over generations.”

After last year’s Native American Day gathering in Albany, New York Governor Kathy Hochul made an historic visit to the Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory, where she officially acknowledged and apologized for the State’s role in operating the Thomas Indian School and for the atrocities that occurred there.

During her apology remarks on the Cattaraugus Territory, the Governor spoke of the need to create new educational materials for the State’s K-12 public education curriculum about Native Nations, including their history, cultures, and contributions. She said that moving forward “must include a cultural revitalization and justice,” and that she was recommitting “to the truth, justice, reconciliation, accountability, and healing that are so essential to move forward together.” 

“The Governor’s visit and apology last year marked an important moment in our history with New York State, but now we want actions to follow the Governor’s words,” President Seneca added. “When you are talking about revitalizing a language, K-12 education does not go deep enough, especially as our number of fluent speakers continues to dwindle. It has to start with our youngest children and carry on through our adult population so that, eventually, all Senecas will be able to hear and converse in the language of our ancestors.”

Today, there are less than 20 living Seneca first language speakers. Approximately less than two percent of all Senecas are fluent in the Seneca language.

“It is only fitting that New York State, which played a leading role in removing Seneca children from their families and sending them through the doors of the Thomas Indian School to be victimized, abused and stripped of their language and culture, should support our efforts to create new schools where our language can thrive and grow once again,” President Seneca added.

Throughout the afternoon, the North Concourse of the Legislative Office Building was filled with informational, cultural, and artistic displays, in recognition of the sovereignty, culture and history of Native Nations. Elected officials, staff and passersby were encouraged to stop, to engage, and to learn more about the vital role the Native Nations within New York continue to play in their home regions and the impact they have across the state.

The post <strong>Seneca Nation Discuss Priority Issues with State Leaders During Native Nations Day in Albany</strong> appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

The Seneca Nation declared May Seneca Women Acknowledgement and Recognition Month in 2014 at the regular session of council motioned by Christina Jimerson, seconded by Nikki Seneca. “Gegwidekneh is the season we give thanks to our thunderers, maple trees, seeds and planting. It is the month we celebrate Mother’s Day, a time we honor all symbols of Mothers is in May. Seneca women display kindness, strength, unity, and fierceness, they are the backbone of the Seneca people,” Council motion, 2014.

Seven Seneca women leaders past, present, and future will be featured for the month of May. These influential women are leading their own paths while staying connected to their roots, community, and traditions. Ja:göh!

PAST – Seneca Language & Culture

Geraldine Gawö:Sid-Tah Green was a member of the Seneca Nation and of the Turtle Clan. Often being referred to as “Sid-tah”. She resided on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Newtown (Lawtons, New York). Born August 1, 1929, in Buffalo to her birth parents Lyman and Laura George then adopted and raised by Sherman and Sophia Cook. She kept in touch with her birthparents but placed emphasis and devotion on the relationship with her adopted parents. Sid-tah later went on to marry Worthington Green. They did not have any children, but she would often consider nieces and nephews to be her children.

Although familiar with and an active member in the Longhouse throughout her lifetime, her marriage to Worthington resulted in a leadership role within the community. Through her husband she gained knowledge of traditional history, speeches, and ceremonial duties. The duo met with elders across the Haudenosaunee nations while attending meetings, along with ceremonies. The couple was well known and respected.

After the loss of Worthington, Sid-tah begun stepping into a role of teacher and mentor. She was a revered fluent speaker of the Seneca Language and would often share her knowledge with anyone who showed interest. She was a Faithkeeper at the Newtown Longhouse. She dedicated time to speak at events in Canada and across the US. She was proud of a specific event of when she was personally invited by First Lady, at the time, Hilary Clinton to discuss the leadership role held by women in native cultures along with issues of importance to the Seneca Nation, to women, and to all people. She often opened her home to anyone who wanted to acquire knowledge of our language and traditions and worked tirelessly to promote and learn all about our people, and language to prevent the loss of our ways.

On November 5, 2009, Geraldine passed away at her home surrounded by loved ones. The loss was heavily felt across the confederacy. A Leader, a Mentor, a Resource, a Loved One, an Auntie to many was lost that day. In 2017, The Trailblazing Women of WNY Monument Projected was commenced by the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women and the University at Buffalo Gender Institute. This project was to rectify the underrepresentation of women in public spaces. In 2024 the unveiling of three pioneering women who significantly contributed to the region’s development, Geraldine Gawö:Sid-Tah Green being one of the three.

PRESENT – Seneca Language & Culture

Derise Waterman – Whitcomb is member of the Turtle Clan, she is originally from Cattaraugus but has resided in Allegany for many years with her husband, Keion, and family. They have one child but are expecting a new addition to their family very soon.

Derise’s ambitions are rooted in the Seneca Language. She career is dedicated to learning and teaching our language. As a Seneca Language Immersion student, she first graduated the intense program and then became a teacher for the incoming class.

Patience and teaching seem to be intuitive for Derise, her calm approach and empathy towards new learners boosts confidence and focus in her students. Her hands on repetitive methods make the learner comfortable. The colorful visual aids concerning weather, time, seasons, and daily routines along the walls of the office are key for memory recognition and establishing routine and patterns.

After graduating from the Seneca Language Immersion Program, Derise’s passion for teaching extended to St. Bonaventure. As an adjunct professor, she teaches Seneca Language college level courses for basic and advanced learning. Working for the Seneca Language Department, she hosted Seneca language and culture youth camps for school aged children during breaks.

Derise has settled at the Women’s Ceremonial Program as the Supervisor. She continues to teach the apprentices. She aides the master elder teachers in spelling, reading and writing the Seneca Language. Her experience is broad, she can fill gaps between ceremonial language and daily language. She contacts coveted resources when she doesn’t have the answer and is determined to find it.

As a modern Seneca woman juggling work, family, a side business and life, Derise feel most connected to Seneca culture and traditions by attending ceremonies. “Giving thanks is something we’ve done perpetually, it’s something we still do today that still connects us,” shares Derise. Continuing to learn the Seneca Language also keeps Derise connected our culture and elders. Younger people conversing with elders has been a goal she has seen come to life in her years working at Immersion, Seneca Language and Women’s Ceremonial.

“I have been told that all of us have our own duty on this earth. A long time ago, everyone had to help out for us to survive. Planting, making clay pots, cooking, or hunting are duties we are gifted with when we are born. It can take a while to find them but if we try to walk a good path, we will find it and help our community. I encourage everyone to keep learning, whether it’s our ceremonies, language, crafts, or agriculture,” shared Derise.

FUTURE – Art & Fashion

Ruth Anne Keyes is a member of the Bear clan. Daughter of Michele and Rod Keyes, granddaughter of maternal grandparents – Ruth and Dan John, paternal grandparents Annie and Robert “Boots” Keyes. She was born in Buffalo, NY and raised on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation.

Ruth Anne is currently residing in Chicago for school. Engaging a career as a mixed media artist and community organizer all while pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). She is anticipated to graduate in the spring of 2027. While at school, Keyes has re-established the Indigenous Student Association in her first year at SAIC, creating space for Native and Indigenous Students within the Institute and Chicagoland Area. Spanning over three years at the school she has also curated, organized, and facilitated a plethora of community events including an Indigenous Student Group Mixer, a Native American Heritage Month Film Screening, Studio Visits with different artists, and informational tabling’s.

Along with organizing events, she is also known for her jewelry, photography, and non-traditional mixed media work that explores the intersectionality of femineity and indigeneity. Ruth draws inspiration from her surroundings, childhood and working multiple women’s meetings as a waitress at Busy Beaver’s – a restaurant at the time located in Wolf’s Run which heavily influenced her community work. Her goal as an artist is to represent what community, culture, and identity is like through different art mediums as well as bringing people together as a form of intergenerational joy and resistance.

The post Seneca Women’s Acknowledgement and Recognition Month appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

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!

The post Hatchery Operations Update: Spring Walleye Production appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

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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