• Dad’s BBQ Cookout at the ACC Gazebo – Wednesday, June 12th from 5-7pm
• Father’s Day event at Highbanks Campground – Saturday, June 15th starting at 1pm
• Father/Child Challenge Golf Tournament at Rosebrooke Golf Course – Saturday, June 15th, 4pm tee-time
• 4th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament on Father’s Day at the Allegany Hatchery – Sunday, June 16th
• Father’s Day Dinner at Allegany Library – Tuesday, June 18th starting at 5pm

See flyers for details:

The post Upcoming Father’s Day Events appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

On May 23rd 1964, a referendum vote was held to determine whether Seneca Women would get the right to vote in Seneca Nation elections. That vote passed 169 to 99, ushering in a new era of progress.

To commemorate 60 years of this milestone, celebratory events, commemorative merchandise giveaways, and recognition ceremonies were held at both Territory’s Community Centers. Community members participated in Women’s Right to Vote 5k runs, where a woman from each Territory were honored for their impact on our shared history as Onödowá’ga’:.

Rovena Watt Abrams, a Turtle Clan member of the Seneca Nation grew up in Cold Spring on the Allegany Territory.

Rovena was only the second employee of the Seneca Nation in the 1960s. She was instrumental in three major periods of Seneca Nation history: the Kinzua Dam era, Seneca women gaining the right to vote, and the expiration of Salamanca’s 99-year leases in 1990s. Rovena was also a women’s advocate for the right for Seneca women to vote in Seneca Nation elections. She recalls Martha Flammang and Verniece Pierce visiting her home and asked her join them in their cause to present this matter to council and hold an election. It would take these tenacious women four times to reach their goal. Their persistance led to Seneca women gaining this right and the right to hold office. Her diplomacy and guidance proved instrumental in her Council appointment to the Salamanca Lease Negotiation Committee, where she helped reach a settlement of the 99-year leases with the City of Salamanca.

In 1994 Rovena became Editor of the Seneca Nation Newsletter, and was also a Tribal Councilor serving for six years from 2002-2008. She later served as a Peacemaker Judge for two years from 2008-2010. Throughout her career, she was appointed to several Boards and Committees including the Kinzua Planning Committee, Seneca Nation Lease Negotiation Committee, Seneca Nation Joint Leasing Commission, the Seneca Iroquois National Museum Board of Trustees, and the Seneca Nation of Indians Economic Development Committee. On June 19, 2013, Rovena received the Lifetime Achievement award presented by Seneca Nation Treasurer Rodney Pierce for “her life’s endeavors and for demonstrating a significant and lasting contribution to the community.

Corinne Lay, a Wolf Clan Member of the Seneca Nation, resides on the Cattaraugus Territory. Corinne is 94 years old, making her our eldest woman on the Cattaraugus territory.

She was married to the late & former President, Calvin E. Lay & they had two children, Doug & Eileen.

Corinne went to school to be an LPN & enjoyed being a nurse.

Some advice from Corinne, and I quote, “encourage girls to like the job they pick and do their best”.

Congratulations to these remarkable women and their accomplishments. Nya:wëh to the planning committee for putting together these events, and nya:wëh to the Community for coming out to celebrate Seneca Women’s Right to Vote.

The post 60th Commemoration of Seneca Women Gaining the Right to Vote appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

The Raymond & Ella Jimerson Family Reunion will be held August 3, 2024 this year. The NEXT planning meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2024 at the CCC, at 6pm.

For more information or if you have questions, contact Treat Montour at 716-984-6784

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Please join us at the Elder Resource Fair on Wednesday, June 12th at the Allegany Community Center or on Wednesday, July 10th at the Seneca Fire Cattaraugus Territory from 10am-2pm. There will be valuable information, community resources, free lunch, giveaways, and door prize drawings. For more information, call AOA at (716) 532-5777 or (716) 945-8414.

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Sign-up sheets for shows will be available 1 MONTH prior to the event. Numbers are turned in to the Casino 1 week prior, if you have a change in plans please cancel before then. GUEST TICKET MUST BE PAID FOR AT LEAST 1 WEEK PRIOR TO SHOW.

Please arrive 2 hours prior to the show for the buffet at the casinos.

• Justin Moore: Saturday, June 15th at 8pm, Seneca Niagara. Guest cost: $48
• Buffalo Bison’s game: Saturday, June 15th at 6:35pm, Bus available. Guest cost: N/A
• Australia’s Thunder from Down Under: Saturday, June 29th at 7pm, Seneca Allegany. Guest cost: $18
• Donny Osmond: Saturday, July 13th at 8pm, Seneca Niagara. Guest cost: $48
• Yacht Rock the Dock Christopher Cross, Ambrosia & Friends: Saturday, July 20th at 8pm, Seneca Niagara Event Center. Guest cost: $38
• Cinderella’s Tom Keifer with special guests-Winger & Lita Ford: Saturday, July 27th at 7pm, Seneca Allegany Event Center. Guest cost: $43
• Comedian Fortune Feimster: Saturday, July 27th at 8pm, Seneca Niagara. Guest cost: $20

The post Upcoming Seneca Elder Events appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Submitted by Stephanie John & Raven Lay

Stop down to the Allegany Elder/Senior Center or the Wini Kettle Senior Center and enjoy daily activities throughout the month of June. For more information call Stephanie or Dorsie at (716) 945-8990 (for Allegany) OR Raven at (716) 532-5777 (for Cattaraugus).

Schedule of events listed below:

The post June 2024 Activities appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Please call or mail in AOA Trip suggestions and comments at least one month in advance. Include the date & time of the event trip you are suggesting. If you have questions, please contact the AOA office.

The post Attention Elders: We Need your Suggestions & Comments appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

If you plan to attend the NYS Fair Indian Day on Friday, August 30th, 2024, please fill out this survey (pictured right) and return it to AOA. You can also complete the survey over the phone by calling Brittany Seneca at 716 532-5777 Ext. 5551. Nya:wëh.

The post Attention Elders – AOA Survey appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Repost from Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area FB

Creating Home: Indigenous Roots & Connections in the Appalachian Forest Exhibit

Repost from Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area FB

Our newest interpretive program kicked-off with the opening of our new rotating exhibit “Creating Home: Indigenous Roots and Connections in the Appalachian Forest”. The exhibit will be open to the public May through October at the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center (Darden Mill, 101 Railroad Ave, Elkins, WV). They celebrated with a free Exhibit Opening Event on May 18 featuring a Seneca Artisans Showcase. Artists featured, included:

Penny Miller: Penny is a member of the Seneca Turtle Clan who works in Black ash splint basketry, cornhusk work, graphic art, and watercolor. Learn more about her work at https://penelopeminner.com/ or https://nativerootsartistsguild.com/…/penelope-s-minner/

“My parents were very artistic, traditional craftspeople of their time. My father, Lester Jimerson was a traditional wood carver and mask maker. He made horn rattles and turtle rattles and traditional Seneca headdresses, while my mother, Hazel would make traditional cornhusk dolls, cornhusk mats and salt bottles. They both have works in the Smithsonian Institute collections.

Traditional arts and crafts were commonplace in our household. I learned much from watching them. I also learned a lot about basket making from the cousin, Midge Dean Stock. I feel that through my talents I am able to share their spirit with others to pass on to the next generation and to those who are willing to learn.

Over the last 8 years I have worked within the community to teach black ash splint basket making and cornhusk doll making, though I have been practicing the craft since 1998. The basket making process is time consuming and labor intensive and because of that, many new students find it is not for them. Finding a dedicated student to whom I can pass this along and keep the tradition alive is a true pleasure.

Residing on the Allegany Reservation in Western New York. I have done demonstrations for the Iroquois Indian Museum, the Seneca Nation (various departments), SUNY Fredonia, Fenimore Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian in NYC. In 2019, three of my art pieces were acquired for the National Museum of the American Indians permanent collection, a life long dream.”

Bernadette Scott: Bernadette Scott is Haudenosaunee (Seneca), deer clan from the Cattaraugus Territory in New York. She comes from a family well-known in the community for teaching, sharing, and making traditional Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls, flowers, baskets, and Haudenosaunee social dancing. In addition, she creates traditional braided cornhusk moccasins in various sizes. Cornhusk doll making has been passed down through many generations on her maternal side. For many years, she has been sharing and teaching how to make Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls throughout Turtle Island with her family. Bernadette has been making cornhusk dolls since she was a young girl and learned from her (late) Grandmother, Lillian Kane and mom, Marcy Kane. “I continue to share and teach traditional Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls and flowers to anyone willing to learn, especially the young and elders because I feel it’s my responsibility to carry on what I’ve been taught especially from my Grandma Lillian. I am thankful I can continue to carry on my family’s tradition.”

See more of her work at https://www.wakebegincreate.com/

Cliff Redeye: “Clifford Redeye III is an Onöndowa’ga:’ (Seneca) artist from the Allegany Territory in Western New York. He has a background in pencil drawing and acrylic painting but has specialized in leather work since 2013. Clifford is self-taught and draws his inspiration from personal and Haudenosaunee stories, and from concerns for the natural world. Most of his pieces are produced with vegetable tanned leather but he has also incorporated smoke tanned hides and antler carving into his projects. He uses hand tools such as a swivel knife, rawhide maul and various water and oil based dyes. His pieces are hand carved and constructed. Clifford’s work has been presented at the Onösahgwë:de Cultural Center, The University of Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and the Woodland Cultural Center (Ontario, CA). He has also had pieces in various shows including at Ganondogan State Historic Site, The Heard Museum, Santa Fe Indian Market, and the Iroquois Museum.”

Additional Seneca Artisans that participated in the exhibit opening event included Lorinda John, Mary Jacobs, Samantha Jacobs, and Joe Stahlman.

Join us summer and fall 2024 for more Native exhibits and programs across AFNHA. Watch our website at https://www.appalachianforestnha.org/news…/seneca-showcase for more info, or contact us at afnha@afnha.org or 304-636-6182! This program was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation, The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History, and West Virginia Commission on the Arts.

The post Creating Home: Indigenous Roots & Connections in the Appalachian Forest Exhibit appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Repost from SNI Conservation – Fish & Wildlife FB

Be a proactive home owner, remove any potential food source they are looking for. Cat and dog food please don’t keep outside. Bird feeders can be a big attraction for these cuties so keep in mind if you see a bear coming for them, take down the feeders for a few days. The bear will move along as long as there is NO food source. Make sure your garbage is in a can and not an attraction for them.

Lets work to contribute on keeping wildlife and communities in harmony.

The post What does Spring bring? Bear! appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.