Pictured above: Senator Borrello and Tina Abrams at the Women of Distinction ceremony in the
Legislative Office Building in Albany, New York.  

May 6, 2026 – ALBANY, N.Y. — Senator George Borrello joined colleagues from across the state at the New York State Legislative Office Building to honor Tina Abrams, Seneca, Wolf Clan, a member of the Seneca Nation Council, as the 57th District’s 2026 New York State Senate Woman of Distinction.

Abrams is the first Indigenous woman to be selected as a New York State Senate Woman of Distinction, a historic first for the program.

The annual ceremony featured remarks by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt, musical performances, and award presentations to Women of Distinction honorees from Senate districts across New York State. 

Abrams has dedicated more than two decades to public service, having first been elected to the Seneca Nation Council in 2001 and making history in 2012 as the first woman appointed Co-Chair of that legislative body. A tireless advocate for Native American rights, cultural preservation, and community service, she has served on the Cattaraugus County Planning Board since 2003, on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors since 2021, and as Northeast Region Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians. In 2025, she was honored as one of Erie County’s “Living Trailblazing Women of Western New York.”

Joining Councilor Abrams in Albany to celebrate the occasion were colleagues and family members, including her husband, John M. Abrams Sr.; Seneca Gaming Corporation CEO Kevin Nephew and his wife Tracie; and Natalie Hemlock and Annette Mohawk Smith.

“Tina Abrams exemplifies what this recognition is meant to honor: a leader who has spent a lifetime in service to her community, her Nation, and Indigenous people across this country,” said Borrello. “It was a privilege to stand with her in Albany and celebrate the remarkable career she has built and the doors she has opened for others.”

“This recognition is a reflection of the community that shaped me, the resilience Seneca women have shown throughout history, and the people who have stood beside me throughout this journey,” said Abrams. “I am deeply grateful to Senator Borrello and to my family and colleagues who made the trip to Albany. Having them here speaks louder than anything I could say, because they represent the family and community that has lifted and carried me to this moment.”

Abrams and her husband reside on the Allegany Territory and have three children and ten grandchildren.

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