Blue Stone Strategy Group (a Native-owned advisory firm in its 14th year of operations in providing Tribal specific services) has been retained to support the Community Planning & Development Department on behalf of the Seneca Nation in leading the Nation through a planning process that will produce an Economic Resiliency Plan tied to the latest Seneca Nation’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The Plan will create a guide to provide the Seneca Nation with feasible and practical short-term and long-term economic recovery and resiliency solutions.

The Economic Resiliency Plan will develop and tailor strategies for COVID-19 pandemic recovery, resiliency and workforce development for the Seneca Nation. The strategic planning process produces the best results when it is collaborative, inclusive and community centric, so we would like to request your participation by providing feedback through an online survey process.

We will be posting survey questions on a weekly basis over the next four weeks via our social media, Facebook page. The full survey can be made available to you via email or hard copy upon request to Courtney Jemison, 532-4900 x5093 at the Planning Department.

•Complete the questions each week to be entered in a drawing.
•1 entry per person
•All answers are kept separate from entry.

Links:

To complete survey w/ all questions:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R9YY6Y6

Week One (4 Questions):
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R97PBPK

Week Two (3 Questions):
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R9P8RY7

Week Three (3 Questions):
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RD926SZ

Week Four (3 Questions):
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RDR6Y9R

The post Economic Planning: We Need Your Input appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

During July’s Council, the Seneca Nation approved the repair and expansion of the natural gas distribution system on the Cattaraugus Territory. The below map depicts the areas where natural gas lines exist or will exist once the project has been completed. You will receive a direct notification letter if you will be effected by the upcoming project. Some residents will require a new service line and other residents will gain access to cheaper, more reliable natural gas. Construction will begin this summer and continue through June 2022.

Nya:wëh,
Seneca Energy / Seneca Utilities

The post Natural Gas Map appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Interested applicants are invited to submit a letter of interest, statement of qualifications, rate for management services, and proposal for future development. Proposals are due to the Seneca Nation of Indians on or before September 15, 2021. The Nation plans to schedule interviews in October and select the successful candidate, if any, by October 31, 2021. A copy of the RFP is available by calling the Office of the President at 716-532-4900, or on the Nation’s website at www.sni.org.

The Seneca Nation desires to enter into an agreement with the selected candidate. Applicants should be experienced in managing recreational areas, as well as be prepared to provide a detailed proposal for the design, construction and management of the proposed Facilities, including a financial analysis supporting the long-term economic viability to the Seneca Nation.

Proposals should be submitted to:
Office of the President
Seneca Nation of Indians
12837 Route 438
Irving, New York 14081

The post Request for Proposals: Seneca Nation Beach appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

The post Climate Crisis Community Survey Results appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Simply download the free app and select Seneca Transit System. You will be able to see the bus number and location as well as expected time of arrival at bus stops.

Watch the video and download the app. We hope this will make your trips more convenient and manageable!

The post STS Announcement: appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Below are the official flyers for more information and for a copy of the schedule of events.

Fall Festival Applications are now available here.

The post Seneca Fall Festival 2021 appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Masks required for all attendees and staff inside Events Center regardless of vaccination status

NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK-SALAMANCA, NEW YORK: (August 16, 2021) Out of an abundance of caution, Seneca Gaming Corporation announced that masks will be required for everyone attending upcoming indoor shows at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino. The requirement applies to all guests and staff inside the Seneca Niagara Events Center and the Seneca Allegany Events Center regardless of vaccination status.

The resorts will host their first live entertainment performances in more than a year, when Ron White performs in the Seneca Niagara Events Center on Saturday, August 21 at 8 p.m., and John Fogerty takes the stage inside the Seneca Allegany Events Center on Saturday, August 28 at 7 p.m.

“In keeping with our unwavering commitment to the health and safety of our guests and team members, we believe a mask requirement inside our Events Centers, since physical distancing isn’t possible, is in everyone’s best interest,” said Kevin Nephew, Seneca Gaming Corporation President & CEO. “We want everyone to enjoy the return of live entertainment to our properties in the safest, most enjoyable way possible.”

The masking requirement will be in effect for the Events Centers only, and will not apply to other areas of the resorts, where strict health and safety measures are already in place for all guests and workers.

“Just as we have for the past 18 months, we will continue to monitor the ongoing health situation, along with all pertinent policies and recommendations, and will take every measure to provide a safe, enjoyable environment at all of our properties,” Nephew said. “The health and safety of everyone who walks through our doors will always be our highest priority.”

For the latest on the health and safety protocols in place at all Seneca Resorts & Casinos properties, visit SenecaCasinos.com, SenecaNiagaraCasino.com, SenecaAlleganyCasino.com, and SenecaBuffaloCreekCasino.com.

The post Mask Update appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Nya:wëh Sgë:nö’.

This month we are thrilled to welcome back four AOA staff members:

• Irma Cortes is the new Senior Advocate for both territories. Irma previously worked at AOA for seven years and is well acquainted with AOA programs and services. Irma is available to meet with and provide assistance to Seneca Elders. She is also planning and coordinating trips and entertainment for Seneca Elders. Irma can be reached at the Wini Kettle Senior Center at (716)532-5777, ext. 5513.
• Raven Lay is the new Activities Coordinator in Cattaraugus. She has worked at AOA for over a year and was previously an Activities Leader. Raven will be coordinating activities like bingo, potluck dinners, crafts and other new games and activities. Pool and shuffleboard tournaments have resumed at Cattaraugus and many Elders have stopped in to participate or to work on their sewing and other crafts.
• Nancy Printup has been with AOA for 21 years and recently returned as our Allegany Activities Coordinator. She looks forward to planning activities like bingo, coffee hour, and exercise and Seneca language classes for Elders.
• Dorsie John-Bluesky is our Allegany Activities Leader and has been at AOA for over 10 years. Dorsie has enjoyed visiting with Elders again at the Senior Center and will be planning crafts and activities like beadwork, card-making and sewing.

The Wini Kettle Senior Center and Seneca Allegany Elders Center are currently open daily from 8am-4pm. Evening and weekend hours will be added soon. If you would like to join us for congregate dining please call for reservations by 3pm the day before. Please note that we are still following COVID safety precautions, including: temperature screenings, social distancing and mask wearing for unvaccinated individuals. If you are not feeling well, please stay home.

Some other AOA services that are available to Seneca Elders are free legal assistance, emergency minor home repair, caregiver support, and assistance obtaining long-term services and supports. Home delivered meals, personal response units, adult day services and in-home contact and support are available to qualifying homebound Elders upon assessment.

If you need support or assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact AOA in Cattaraugus at (716)532-5777 or Allegany at (716)945-8990. We hope you are staying safe and healthy and we hope to see you soon.

September Activities 2001

Seneca Allegany Elder Center

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This email is solely for Seneca members that want to submit information directly to the Newsletter. This is NOT a general contact for the Seneca Nation of Indians.

Any/all emails that do not pertain to the Newsletter will not be answered directly from Newsletter staff but forwarded to the appropriate Department. It will thus be the responsibility of the appropriate Department to reply to the email. If you have any comments, complaints, or questions, please contact the specific department directly. Contact information for all departments is available on sni.org.

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The J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University has named Seneca Tribal Member Michalyn Steele as the new Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs. Michalyn is a tenured professor who teaches Federal Indian Law, Constitutional Law, the Law of Evidence, and Civil Rights. She has written many scholarly articles, mostly addressing federal Indian Law issues, that have been published in prestigious law reviews. For example, one of the recent articles that she co-authored with one of her colleagues, “Rethinking Protections for Indigenous Sacred Sites,” was published in the Harvard Law Review. She will undertake the additional duties of Associate Dean in the fall semester that will begin in August of this year. Michalyn is from the Beaver Clan. She grew up on the Cattaraugus Territory. She is the daughter of Lynn and Carolyn Steele and the granddaughter of the late Martin and Norma Seneca.

The post Michalyn Steele Named Associate Dean of BYU Law School appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.