Submitted by Anthony Giacobbe

When can you sign up?
Construction of this extensive fiber network in the Seneca Nation Cattaraugus territory is underway, and service will be rolled out on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. We expect service to be ready in some neighborhoods by Fall 2021. You can view the current progress of installation in your neighborhood or preregister for service by visiting sni.dftcommunications.com.

Contact DFT Communications at 716-532-3131.

See flyer below for pricing:

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Below you’ll find various contests, celebrations and trunk & treat events taking place over the next two weeks.

If anyone or any department would like to include their Halloween festivities/flyers/announcements to this post, call the Allegany Newsletter office at 716-945-1790, ext. 3030 or ext. 3029 or email sninews@sni.org.

The post Happy Halloween! Upcoming EVENTS appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Fall is a beautiful time of year, but seasons change quickly! We want to make sure that our Elders are prepared for winter and aware of the services available to help them stay safe.

Snow Plowing

During the winter months the Seneca Nation DPW may be able to provide snow plowing for eligible Elders on-territory. Please remember that DPW’s first priority is clearing parking lots and walkways at SNI facilities. After SNI sites are cleared, work begins to plow driveways for Seneca Elders/Disabled members that have requested service. DPW makes every effort to schedule early plowing for those eligible who need to be able to get out of their driveways for dialysis, chemotherapy, etc.

For more information or to apply for snow-plowing through SNI DPW, please contact Lindsey Cooper, AOA Senior Support Specialist, at (716) 532-5777 ext. 5504.

HEAP

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps low-income people pay the cost of heating their homes. If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off.

The 2021-2022 Regular HEAP benefit opened October 1, 2021. Eligibility and benefits are based on income, household size, the primary heating source, and the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled.

For more information or assistance applying for HEAP, please contact Briana Snyder, AOA Options Counselor, at (716) 532-5777, ext 3624.

Winter Weatherization

With a little planning and preparation, you can reduce the cost to keep your home warm this winter. Dirt and neglect are the number one causes of heating system failure, so be sure to schedule a fall checkup of your heating equipment with a licensed contractor to make sure your system is operating at peak performance.

Seal air leaks to prevent warm air from leaking out of the house. Winter weatherization Kits from National Fuel are available at Allegany and Cattaraugus AOA and include weather-stripping, foam sealant and other products to help keep your home warm. Kits are first come, first serve. Please call or stop in to pick one up if you are interested.

Upcoming Drive-Thru Distribution

A.O.A. LEGAL DAY w/SNI Surrogates Court & Attorney Lee Redeye

Tuesday, October 19th, 10am
@ Wini Kettle Elders Center
Thursday, October 21st, 11am
@ Seneca Allegany Elders Center

Stop by to meet the Judges and Court Clerks. Get information on Will Preparation and Estate Planning.

Adult Day Services

Reprinted from AOA Elder Living – October 2021 Newsletter

An adult day center provides care for vulnerable adults in a safe, cheerful and supportive environment. Adult day centers operate during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, in some instances Saturdays as well. Nutritious meals are typically included as well as an afternoon snack.

Examples of activities typically provided:
• Arts and crafts
• Musical entertainment
• Mental stimulation
• Stretching or other gentle exercise

The Seneca Nation AOA has contracted with three Adult Day centers to provide Adult Day services to qualified Elders and their caregivers. They include:

1. Lake Shore Family Center
   in Irving, NY
2. Chautauqua Adult Day
   in Jamestown, NY
3. Linwood Adult Day Center
   in Olean, NY

If you are a caregiver you may find that an adult day program can not only provide you a safe & supervised environment for your Elder, but it can also provide social interaction and cognitive stimulation for your loved one.

Depending on the participants income, there may be cost share associated with this program. For more information or to schedule an assessment to see if you qualify, please contact AOA Case Managers:

• Shantel Burning, Catt. AOA
(716) 532-5777
• Theresa Redeye, Alleg. AOA
(716) 945-8990

The post AOA Elders Corner: Preparing for Winter appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Seneca Media

On Saturday, September 25, 2021, Native Connections held an “OUT of the DARKNESS” walk to help save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Jackie John was a guest speaker to relay her experience and share her healing process on the suicide of her son, Matthew Aaron John who died 12/20/2000, almost 21 years ago. There was also a large support presence in remembrance of Stacey James Williams. Registration number for this event was 100 participants.

How to Practice Mindfulness:

The post “OUT of the DARKNESS” Walk appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

rochestercitynewspaper.com | September 29, 2021

Photo: Artist Peter Jemison stands in front of his “Water is Life” mural, which was installed on the Floreano Convention Center facing the Genesee River. – Photo credit: Rebecca Rafferty

In the Haudenosaunee creation story, Sky Woman, the daughter of the Great Spirit, descends from the heavens toward a watery world whose animals, fearing for her safety, dredge mud from the bottom of the sea to make the earth grow on the back of a giant turtle.

That story has been depicted on a new mural that was unveiled Tuesday in downtown Rochester at the edge of the Genesee River.

Artist Peter Jemison, manager of the Ganondagan State Historic Site, painted the work, titled “Water is Life.” A weatherproof reproduction was installed on the side of the Floreano Convention Center in cooperation with the city.

Jemison is a member of the Seneca Nation, which is part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Iroquois — a name given to them by French colonists).

“To me this was the ideal location for the mural,” Jemison said during the unveiling.

“I feel a very strong connection to the Genesee River because our people — my people, the Seneca people — lived on the river here, all the way down as far as Letchworth State Park,” he said.

Mayor Lovely Warren led the unveiling, and commented on the Haudenosaunee people’s powerful relationship to the natural world as well as the city’s investment in remaking the riverfront, which has been a centerpiece of her administration.

“Today we honor that relationship, not only by this mural, but by reinvesting in and reimagining our relationship with the water that runs through our city,” Warren said.

Jemison, whose artwork is currently on exhibit at the Memorial Art Gallery through Nov. 7, also oversaw the addition of the Seneca Art & Cultural Center at Ganondagan State Historic Site in 2014. The SACC functions as a museum to the Seneca’s history in this region, a fine arts gallery, and a performing arts center.

A plaque with the title, names of contributing artists, and the creation story is installed next to the mural.

The installation of “Water is Life” marks what Jemison called a start to educating the wider public about the history of this land and its original inhabitants.

“My ambition was to put something here that would acknowledge the original people that occupied this land,” he said. “And this really solves that, just as a good representation of a story of ours, the creation story, an elegant story that figures into our cosmology. I think it will help raise consciousness.”

The unveiling came ahead of Indigenous People’s Day, Oct. 11, which the city formally recognized as the alternative to Columbus Day in 2018.

Source: https://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/water-is-life-mural-by-seneca-artist-installed-on-the-genesee/Content?oid=13726895&fbclid=IwAR1rI7ryZTJMRXSexle4ThhdQSOSlkxgbDyDx30Sglawk_UaV_4eypBNmQU

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Repost from GCSD Facebook page

Let’s give a warm welcome to JOHN Y. WATERMAN JR., the newest member of the Board of Education of Gowanda Central School District.

Mr. Waterman, who is a 1992 graduate of GCS, was sworn in Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at the start of the regular meeting by district clerk Kathy Ferneza. He resides in Perrysburg with his wife, Beth, and their six children, some of whom attend GCS. He is a volunteer for Seneca Fire on the Cattaraugus Territory.

We’re grateful for Mr. Waterman’s volunteerism and are thrilled to have him working with our Panther family. #onceapantheralwaysapanther #GowandaCSD

The post Ja:goh John Waterman, Jr., appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Repost from GCSD Facebook page

Congratulations to the following Panthers on being named Student Council officers at Gowanda Middle School for the 2021-2022 academic year:

• CASHIS MONTOUR is PRESIDENT
• ALAYNA FISH is VICE PRESIDENT
• ISABELLE GRAHAM is TREASURER
• BELLA MAINES is SECRETARY

Way to go!

The post Ja:goh Cashis Montour! appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

https://www.thek.art/g-peter-jemison

The illustrious career of G. Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan) spans decades across a wide swath of diverse accomplishments with an immeasurable worldwide impact. Jemison has explored various topics through his art, from creating political works that portray contemporary social commentary to those that reflect his relationship with the natural world.

Join Us – October 22nd for the opening night of Ga’nigöi:yoh: G. Peter Jemison, a retrospective surveying his triumphs and tragedies from 1964 to the present day, all portrayed through paintings, parasols, and paper bags. The event is open to the public at the K Art gallery from 7 pm – 10 pm.

K Art COVID Policy – For your safety and those around you, to attend the exhibition, you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated. Should you not feel comfortable providing that information or not be fully vaccinated, we require guests to wear masks. We will have masks on hand at the event for your convenience.

For pre-registration, please email a copy of your vaccine card to operations@thek.art. Please make the subject of the email your first and last name.

For in-person registration, please bring a photo ID and at least one of the following forms of proof:

• State/city digital vaccine pass (ex: New York Excelsior pass);

• A photo of your Center for Disease Control vaccine card;

• Or the hard copy of your Center for Disease Control vaccine card.

Ga’nigöi:yoh: To have a good mind. For the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois, this is the ideal philosophy of life. Following the arrival of the peacemaker, who assisted in the burial of arrows under the Tree of Peace, the Haudenosaunee have utilized this concept of awareness in their teachings of peace.

They believe that peace is a state of mind obtained through a strong connection to spirit, a process only attainable with exceptional clarity. Consequently, this will allow the spirit to grow and acknowledge the transmittable spiritual energy which pervades all inanimate and animate natural objects, simply Orenda. Those with a Good Mind have strong Orenda, leading to a life of peace.

Above all, Jemison is a storyteller with a Good Mind, carving the path towards peace.

The post Opening Night of Ga’nigöi:yoh: G. Peter Jemison, a retrospective appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) — West Seneca’s Historical Society is honoring a legendary figure in the town’s history. Officials unveiled a marker in honor of Kau-Qua-Tau.

The Seneca medicine woman was executed for witchcraft in the 1820s.

The marker is placed at lower Lower Ebenezer Cemetery where it’s believed Kau-Qua-Tau is buried and where her spirit still remains.
“The role of the Seneca Nation in our town’s history is vital. They were the first inhabitants here. And this is a story that has some local attractions. But we want to get the story out more of this woman, a respected member of her community we feel that she was kind of an unfortunate demise, but we want to keep her memory alive,” said

The marker was paid through a grant from the Pomeroy Foundation’s Legends and Lore program.

The post West Seneca Historical Society unveils marker commemorating the legend of Kau-Qua-Tau appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Photos by Seneca Media | Campaign info: nfpa.org

In celebration of Fire Prevention Week, October 3-9, 2021; Seneca Fire Cattaraugus Territory held a fire drill with ECLC. The children were able to meet “Sparky” and have a fire apparatus tour.

Remember to change your smoke alarm batteries, test your detectors and plan an escape route with at least 2 practice runs throughout a year.

2021 Fire Prevention Week Campaign

This year’s FPW campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” works to educate everyone about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action.

What if someone in my home is deaf or hard of hearing?

There are smoke alarms and alert devices that alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices include strobe lights that flash to alert people when the smoke alarm sounds. Pillow or bed shakers designed to work with your smoke alarm also can be purchased and installed. For more information on this important topic, visit Fire Safety for the deaf or hard of hearing section.

Frequently Asked Questions about smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

What’s the difference between smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms? Why do I need both?

Smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger. In the event of fire, you may have as little as 2 minutes to escape safely, which is why smoke alarms need to be in every bedroom, outside of the sleeping areas (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement). Do not put smoke alarms in your kitchen or bathrooms.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that displaces oxygen in your body and brain and can render you unconscious before you even realize something is happening to you. Without vital oxygen, you are at risk of death from carbon monoxide poisoning in a short time. CO alarms detect the presence of carbon monoxide and alert you so you can get out, call 9-1-1, and let the professionals check your home.

How do I know which smoke and CO alarm to choose for my home?

Choose an alarm that is listed with a testing laboratory, meaning it has met certain standards for protection. Whether you select a unit that requires yearly changing of batteries, or a 10-year unit that you change out at the end of the 10 years, either will provide protection.

CO alarms also have a battery backup. Choose one that is listed with a testing laboratory. For the best protection, use combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected throughout the home. These can be installed by a qualified electrician, so that when one sounds, they all sound. This ensures you can hear the alarm no matter where in your home the alarm originates.

Importance of fire prevention

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

The post Annual Fire Prevention Week appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.