CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, IRVING, N.Y. – Officials from the Seneca Nation and two programs that serve the Seneca community received a special visit this afternoon.

Representatives from Owl Homes of Fredonia, a leading builder of modular and manufactured homes, delivered donation checks of $3,000 for the Seneca Sachems Football Organization, and $2,000 to the Seneca Nation’s Tribal Advocate Program.

“Every day, we strive to provide services and programs that serve the needs and enrich the lives of every Seneca on our territories through every stage of their life,” said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. “We are incredibly grateful to our friends from Owl Homes for their donations. Their generosity will help to ensure the continued strength of the Seneca Sachems and our Tribal Advocate Program, two programs that both serve important roles in the Seneca community.”

The Seneca Sachems Football Organization is a youth football and cheerleading program open to Seneca boys and girls ages 6-11. The organization’s teams compete in the Cattaraugus County Midget Football League at the Flag Football, PeeWee, and Midget divisions, with football and cheer teams for each division. In 2023, more than 70 Seneca youth participated on the Seneca Sachems teams, and were supported by numerous dedicated volunteer coaches, organizers and supporters. Board members for Seneca Sachems Football Organization, including Board President Charlie Scanlan, Vice President Dakota Snyder, Treasurer Keira Thompson, and Secretary Kortney Keyes, accepted the donation on behalf of the organization.

The Nation’s Tribal Advocate Program provides assistance to enrolled Senecas in emergency situations, including loss of income, disability, loss of home, and other emergencies. Services include minor home repair, emergency food pantry, and Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) assistance. The program also offers referrals to all Seneca Nation members for the Weatherization Program operated by Cattaraugus Community Action in Salamanca. Kerry Kennedy, Tribal Advocate on the Seneca Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory, accepted the donation on behalf of the Tribal Advocate Program.

“Owl Homes has been fortunate to develop a strong partnership with the Seneca Nation over the last 30 years in helping to address housing needs on the Nation’s Territories,” said Dominic Bellanti, President of Owl Homes. “As a Western New York company, we know how important the Seneca Nation is to our community. We also believe in giving back to the community. Supporting the Seneca Sachems and the Tribal Advocate Program is a reflection of our valued friendship with our Seneca neighbors.”

The post Nya:wëh, Owl Homes! appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Spring is a time of healing and rejuvenation, when nature recovers from the harshness of winter. At the time of this Special Edition newsletter, our community is in need of healing.

Over the last several weeks, the dark sadness brought on by unexplained deaths related to the drug epidemic has again enveloped our community. There is anger, sadness, confusion, desperation, exhaustion, and, above all, mourning for lives whose potential will never be reached and families that will never again be complete. As your elected Councillors and Executives, we share those same emotions, and we know, as you do, that more must be done protect our people from these destructive behaviors and the people who perpetrate them.

Illegal drug activity is robbing us of bright futures, jeopardizing Senecas of every age, and endangering our safety, our health and our overall way of life. While we know that Native people are almost twice as likely to die of an opioid overdose than non-Natives, we also know that people in our community and in all communities continue to seek profit from poisoning others and enticing them down a deadly path.

As a Nation and as a community, our greatest defenses against these soulless actions and actors are education and resources. That is the focus of this newsletter.

The Seneca Nation has resources and individuals committed to helping those who need support. The members of the Seneca Nation Drug Task Force, the dedicated professionals of our Seneca Nation Health System and Seneca Strong, and our dedicated first responders from the Marshals, Seneca Fire and Seneca EMS are working hard to do everything they can to serve our people. There is information in this newsletter to help you understand what programs, services and resources are at our community’s disposal.

We also have community groups like SMAD and vigilant neighbors and individuals who continue to raise awareness – and their voices – to suspected illegal activities in our community. Community is a major component in fighting this deadly situation. We have to hold one another up, but we also have to hold one another accountable. The Seneca Nation government will continue to take whatever actions we can to protect our community and our people now and into the future.

All of us share the same hope and same goal of ridding our community of people and actions that destroy Seneca families, rather than preserve them. By sharing information and resources, and by staying united, we can restore our community and ensure that the Seneca Nation remains strong, healthy, and vibrant for generations.

Nya:wëh,

The Members of the Seneca Nation Council and Seneca Nation Executives

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I believe we all have a part in maintaining a healthy community. A healthy community, in my perspective, is a population supported both internally and externally to achieve its full potential in quality of life. As Chief Executive Officer of the Seneca Nation Health System (SNHS), I am confident in the services and programs offered to the community, such as primary medical care, dental services, behavioral health counseling, nutrition consultation, parenting classes, and much more. As a community member and user of SNHS services, there are priorities that become near and dear to our work at SNHS. Dedicating our work to the comprehensive wellbeing of our patients has become a foundation to implementing services at SNHS.

Risk factors, family history and statistics are constantly used to highlight, normalize or explain our hardships. We know how disproportionately we are affected by crime, rates of diabetes, experiences of trauma, and other ailments/experiences that lower quality of life. Our community is a distinct sufferer to the opioid epidemic, alcohol use, and other forms of addiction. Addiction affects more than just the individual; the household, family, and community are all affected, too. Therefore, our response must be specific to the individual and encompass all of those affected. One of the cruel and devastating realities of addiction is the lack of any gold standard or “tried and true” models for recovery. There is no magic one-size-fits-all approach. There is no reason great enough – not the wants of others, not the suffering of parents, disappointment and fears felt by friends, codependency of spouses, enabling behaviors of well-meaning support systems, or other reactions that will ensure willingness to accept treatment and shift toward recovery.

In all that we do, SNHS aims to meet individuals where they are. By working respectfully with individuals, aligned to their beliefs, with their goals in mind, we can work with those who are willing to accept the help. We have resources, support groups, staff to coach and support- various tools, services, and programs (many of which you can read more about in this special newsletter) to help those with an addiction(s), their loved ones and family members, and community members.

Please reach out to us with any questions or to initiate services.

The post A Message from Seneca Health Systems appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

When faced with an unprecedented crisis; be it physical, emotional, financial, familial, or otherwise, it becomes painfully obvious that we have to respond to the crisis with a force greater than the crisis itself. This crisis I speak of is the opiate crisis. The opiate crisis has left our community reeling and has touched everyone in different, but in similar ways as well. This crisis has strained the healthcare, behavioral health, social services and law enforcement systems that intervene to help those affected by this opiate crisis. The questions are many and the answers are few.

It is estimated that the opiate crisis takes one-hundred lives every single day of the week in this country. One-hundred lives-every single day. Think about that number for a minute. One-hundred brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends. Each loss is like dominoes falling one after another through our families, homes and communities.

The overall life expectancy in this country has declined for three years in a row due to this opiate crisis. Be it oxycodone, hydocodone, morphine heroine, fentanyl, or carfentanil; the dangers are here in our communities and they are real and closer than you might think. Native American communities have been particularly hard hit by the opiate crisis. The rates of death are three times higher for Native Americans compared to others groups.

A community’s strengths are none greater than the people that make up their community. We can, and must believe this to be true. We also know that when one hurts, many hurt. When one cries; many cry. When one falls, many will also fall. BUT…when one rises, many will also rise. When one overcomes, many will overcome. And, when one rejoices, many will rejoice with them.

Do not underestimate the power of hope and action. I believe that goals plus motivation does equal success. We as individuals and collectively as a community must mobilize our resources and motivate ourselves to act, love and support. I believe that for every ounce we put into our response to this crisis, it will be returned tenfold.

This is the challenge-and the opportunity. We must stand as one and fight this epidemic. Supporting and helping those who need us becomes our mission. I have said countless times that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety…it is connection. Reconnecting those who struggle with opiate addiction is our business…all of ours. Be it Behavioral Health, Seneca Strong , Family Support Services or Prevention, our mission is clear. We are here and will work together, along with our leadership to end this crisis and reconnect our communities.

The post The Opioid Crisis and Reconnecting appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Clients who may be in need of services during hours that the Behavioral Health Unit is closed can contact any of the agencies listed below:

AA, Jamestown: 716-484-1544

AA HOTLINE, Olean: 716-372-4800

CRISIS HOTLINE: 716-834-3131

WNY Mental Health CRISIS HOTLINE: 1-800-724-0461

CRISIS HOTLINE, Cattaraugus County: 1-800-339-5209

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

WCA Hospital: 716-487-0141

Olean General Hospital: 716-373-2600

Bradford Regional Medical Center: 1-814-368-4143

Victims of Any Crime HOTLINE: 716-945-3970

Child Abuse HOTLINE: 1-800-342-3720

SNI Marshal’s, Allegany: 716-945-2779

The post Behavorial Health Unit EMERGENCY COVERAGE appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Illicit fentanyl, primarily manufactured in foreign clandestine labs and smuggled into the United States through Mexico, is being distributed across the country and sold on the illegal drug market. Fentanyl is being mixed in with other illicit drugs to increase the potency of the drug, sold as powders and nasal sprays, and increasingly pressed into pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioids. Because there is no official oversight or quality control, these counterfeit pills often contain lethal doses of fentanyl, with none of the promised drug.

There is significant risk that illegal drugs have been intentionally contaminated with fentanyl. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, increasing the likelihood of a fatal interaction. According to the CDC, synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the United States. Comparison between 12 months-ending January 31, 2020 and the 12 months-ending January 31, 2021 during this period:

• Overdose deaths involving opioids rose 38.1 percent.
• Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) rose 55.6 percent and appear to be the primary driver of the increase in total drug overdose deaths.

Unless a drug is prescribed by a licensed medical professional and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy, you can’t know if it’s fake or legitimate. And without laboratory testing, there’s no way to know the amount of fentanyl in an individual pill or how much may have been added to another drug. This is especially dangerous because of fentanyl’s potency.

Narcan can be used to reverse the effects of fentanyl, there is also Test strips for checking to see if there is fentanyl in the substance you are using both can obtained at either Seneca Strong locations

Allegany Office
Old ECLC
983 RC Hoag Dr.
Salamanca, NY 14779
Phone: 716-945-8413

Cattaraugus Office
Wellness Center
36 Thomas Indian School Dr.
Gowanda, NY 14081
Phone: 716-532-8456

The post What is Fentanyl? appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

One example of enabling could come every month – around “check day”. How many of us make it convenient for someone that we know uses drugs – to get to the bank and cash their annuity check? We know they need to cash their check, so they can buy drugs, yet we take them to the bank, regardless. How about letting someone we know, that uses drugs – borrow our vehicle so they can go purchase drugs and can get high again? Here is an act of enabling, which is difficult to swallow – how many of us provide a roof over someone’s head that uses drugs, just so they won’t be homeless and/or sleeping in the streets? We probably think we are being helpful, but in reality we are contributing to someone’s active drug addiction. Perhaps you excuse or ignore troubling behavior, or lend them money, or assist in other ways. It’s important to realize enabling doesn’t really help. Over time, it has a damaging and devastating effect on a loved one’s life and others around them; such as children.

The post What Is Enabling and What Is An Enabler? appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

The flyer below lists signs and symptoms to look for to identify a potential overdose:

The post Opioid Overdose appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Xylazine is seen primarily as an additive in the unregulated drug supply and is not typically a substance that is used on its own. Although it has been found to be mixed in with other substances, xylazine most commonly is being added to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Xylazine is described as giving fentanyl ‘legs’ meaning it may extend the duration of effect that fentanyl has in persons using it. Because xylazine is an additive in the unregulated drug supply, people who use drugs (PWUD) may be using xylazine knowingly or unknowingly. Qualitative research has shown that PWUD have mixed preferences for xylazine, although most PWUD try to avoid using it because of the potential negative health impacts it causes.

Common names for xylazine:

• Tranq
• tranq dope
• anestesia de caballo
• Rompun (veterinary medication brand name)
• AnaSed (veterinary medication brand name)

Where does xylazine come from?

Because xylazine is used commonly in veterinary medicine, it is suspected it is diverted from veterinary sources. Xylazine was first seen as an additive in the unregulated drug supply in Puerto Rico in the early 2000s and began appearing in Philadelphia soon thereafter. Since then, xylazine has spread within the Northeast and continued to spread westward and southward. It is unknown how, when, and where in the unregulated drug supply chain xylazine is being added

What are the effects of xylazine?

Sedation: Xylazine causes deep sedation and a heavy nod, especially in the first 20-30 minutes after use, depending on the route of administration. When using substances containing xylazine, a person can be sedated deeply for several hours. This can put them at risk for physical and sexual assault, theft, and medical complications from lying in one position for too long.

These medical complications can include:

• Pressure ulcers
• Blood clots
• Compartment syndrome: a painful condition where the pressure in and around muscles rises to dangerous levels
• Rhabdomyolysis: a serious medical condition that occurs when muscle tissue breaks down potentially damaging the liver and kidneys

Central nervous system depression: Xylazine causes severe CNS depression in humans which can contribute to muscle relaxation of the tongue which can block the airway and prevent a person from breathing.

Potential Health Impacts of Xylazine:

• Overdose: When using substances that contain both fentanyl and xylazine there is an increased risk for overdose because of the combination of the sedation and CNS depression caused by xylazine coupled with the respiratory depression caused by opioids.
• Physical dependence and withdrawal: While there isn’t yet a defined use disorder associated with xylazine, the unintentional or intentional use of xylazine can contribute to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms can occur when someone decreases or stops using xylazine. Symptoms of withdrawal may include non-specific anxiety, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, sweating, restlessness, agitation and irritability.

There are not yet clear recommendations on clinical treatment for xylazine withdrawal; however, case reports suggest there are benefits to using other alpha-2 agonists like clonidine for managing xylazine withdrawal symptoms.

• Skin wounds: Xylazine use can lead to the development of skin wounds. These wounds can occur in both persons who inject and in persons who do not inject substances. For those who do inject substances, the wounds can occur at the injection site or in places where the person has not injected. Currently, it is unknown why these skin wounds occur both with and without injection use.

The post What is Xylazine? appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Seneca Strong is compassionate to the social, psychological and inter-generational traumas of our community while supporting the empowerment of family and individuals. Seneca Strong utilizes customs and practices handed down by our ancestors. We offer holistic healing through Meditation, Nature Connections, Energy Healing, and Hypnotherapy. We also have mens and womens talking circles, as well as a Red Road to Wellbriety group. We provide peer outreach and support to help guide our people to the proper support services for treatment and continue to assist through recovery.

Our ultimate goal is to help each individual in reaching their maximum potential relating to themselves, family, friends, employment, and recovery from drugs and alcohol. We reach to help all those in need.

Outreach and Engagement
Seneca Strong Peers conduct outreach in the community. Peers work with individuals and the spectrum of needs of those living with unaddressed trauma and addiction, including: linkage and engagement in treatment and ongoing support, access to safe and sober housing, employment and education, social relationships, community participation, advocacy and support. We are a non-judgmental program and meet the individual where they are at in their recovery.

Inpatient/Outpatient Referral
The Recovery Center works with law enforcement, inpatient programs and hospitals to identify referrals to the Program. Seneca Strong is advertised in the community, and both community and self-referrals are accepted. Peer Recovery Advocates work with individuals on basic needs such as health care (mental or physical), adequate shelter, adequate food, and clothing will also be addressed and linkages with follow up, including treatment.

Recovery Services
A Peer Recovery Guide is a person with significant life-altering experience. This is also referred to as lived-experience in terms of addiction and recovery. Peer Recovery Guides work with individuals struggling with addiction and unaddressed trauma to improve quality of life and reduce overdose and death by substance use. Peers are positive role models and are trained in many areas of trauma and support.,

Prevention Services
Native Connections also known as The Prevention Team, has a mission to reduce substance use and suicide risk among Seneca Nation youth and families through the creation of community-wide and culturally relevant programming. The Prevention team focuses on youth, family and community education aimed at preventing substance use and suicide risk. Located on both territories, the team provides individual and group educational sessions, trainings and activities. The team also focuses on having collaborative working relationships with other Seneca Nation programs & outside agencies where our youth and families can be found in order to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors.

Prevention Education Services include:

• Individual and/or group educational sessions on substance use prevention and mental health promotion topics
• ASIST Trainings (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
• Teen Intervene Sessions
• Community Event Outreach
• Native Connections Family Engagement Program
• Continual development of prevention and intervention educational sessions and events
• Bringing evidence-based curriculum to the local schools
• Seneca Club houses (for ages 12-17) located on both territories

Contact Us
Cattaraugus Seneca Strong Office
Community Health and Wellness Center
36 Thomas Indian School Drive
Irving, NY 14081
Main Phone: (716) 532-8456

Youth Club house is located at the Saylor Community Building
Monday 3pm-7pm and Wednesday 3pm-7pm

Allegany Seneca Strong Office
Seneca Strong Building (Old ECLC)
983 R. C. Hoag Drive
Salamanca, NY 14779
Main Phone: (716) 945-8413

Youth Club house is located in the MPR of the old ECLC Building
Mon 3pm-7pm and Wed. 3pm-7pm

Upcoming Narcan Trainings

Free & Open to the Public!

Join us in Allegany & Cattaraugus. See flyer below for details:

The post Who are Seneca Strong & Native Connections/Prevention Unit? appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.