The Seneca Nation Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Cattaraugus Territory, is hosting their annual Large Item Drop-off event the week of Monday, October 27th – Sunday, November 2nd, 2025. Please drop-off your items between the hours of 8am-5:30pm at the lot across from DPW. Elder and Disability pick-ups will be held Monday, October 27th thru Thursday, October 30th. Pick-up times will be held 8am-3pm.

Elders & persons with disabilities may call the office to schedule a pick-up. Limit one pick-up per household. Call (716) 532-2546 to schedule or for questions.

See flyers below for details and allowable items.

*EPD reserves the right to reject any item deemed unacceptable.

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Remember the Removal (RTR) is an event held each year in remembrance of Senecas who were forced from their lands, their homes and their way of life. The Seneca Nation deems it’s vital to educate younger generations of the Kinzua Dam removal that broke the Treaty of Canandaigua and flooded 10,000 acres of prime Seneca land on the Allegany territory, Ohi:yo’ (good river). One hundred and thirty families were forced to relocate for the construction of the Kinzua Dam in Warren County, Pennsylvania to prevent flooding in Pittsburg. In 1964, The Army Corps of Engineers built a dam that allowed the city of Pittsburg, PA and its corporations like Heinz to thrive without the nuisance of flooding.

The last Saturday of September of each year is when Remember the Removal is recognized by the Seneca Nation Council motion dated 1984. In 1984, the first event was held with a walk through the flooded communities that included cemeteries, farms and the Cold Spring Longhouse. Brenda Deeghan, daughter of survivor Carolyn Brant, advocated for a yearly event and a grass roots committee of locals was formed.

“I had a dream where I saw hundreds of our ancestors walking down the old road, wearing all their Seneca traditional clothing. They were sad and mourning because we had started to forget our past and what we had lost. I shared this dream with Rebecca Bowen who said maybe we should do this since it’s been 20 years since we were relocated. She said she would talk to her sister Jackie Bowen who also supported the idea. The idea was shared with other Seneca members, and a grass roots committee was formed with the intent of recognizing what the Allegany Senecas experienced 20 years before and educating the young people so that it never happens again. The committee shared from their hearts and approached the SNI Councillors of the time who also supported the event idea and that is how the Remember the Removal started,” shared Deeghan.

Today, two of the heads of households still reside in the Ohi:yo’ community. Carolyn Brant of Jimersontown and Bennett Wheeler of Steamburg are the remaining survivors of the 130 families forced to move. They were both present at the event and received a gift in commemoration of their hardship and loss. Bennett Wheeler tossed the wreath over the newly constructed Red House bridge in memory of all who lost their homes in a somber moment.

The children and descendants of the heads of households are many of the elders in attendance today. They remember the Red House School, playing ball at the fields, swimming in the river, and attending ceremonies and events and the Cold Spring Longhouse. They knew best spots to pick elderberries and huckleberries, where to see the Northern Lights, and the deepest spots to ice fish. Dennis Bowen, Brenda Deeghan, and Councillor Maurice “Moe” John Sr. shared their memories and hope for the future of reclaiming and rebuilding on the lost lands.

“Our Land. Our Roots” was the theme of the program this year in support of the Seneca Nation’s 1365’ Committee. In 2023, the Seneca Nation Council approved a resolution to establish the 1365 Resettlement Committee to identify livable lands in the Take Area and develop a comprehensive plan for their resettlement. Since then, the Committee has held several meetings to advance its plan, including multiple meetings with representatives from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the same agency that carried out the United States government’s order in the 1960s to take 10,000 acres of Seneca land for the construction of the Kinzua Dam to prevent flooding in Pittsburgh. Hundreds of Seneca families were relocated, homes were bulldozed and burned, sacred sites were destroyed, and the Seneca ways of life in the area were changed forever.

“We believe that re-establishing our connection to the land strengthens our self-sovereignty,” said the late Tyler Heron, former 1365 Resettlement Committee Chairman. “We lost material things when the United States government betrayed us, including homes and buildings, but there were emotions attached to those places as well. We are channeling that passion and emotion into a plan that takes into consideration the health and welfare of the Seneca people.”

The newly constructed Red House bridge was finished in July replacing one of the last structures of the pre-Kinzua days. Although the bridge was still used by locals, it had become unsafe with a gaping hole on one side. “It’s a great feeling to have the new Red House Bridge replaced and upgraded so our communities are connected once again. This bridge and way of passage meant a lot to our ancestors. This is the third bridge that has been constructed for our people to get across Ohi:yo’,” shared Rod Pierce.

The Red House Bridge is the start of progress and hope of reclaiming and rebuilding on flooded lands of Ohi:yo’. “My father would say this is progress, and I think that we should take advantage of what we have been given. This is a great way to represent how we have progressed over the past 60 years and how we need to continue to do that. We need to continue to keep each other up,” shared Tracie Heron, daughter of Tyler Heron.

President J. Conrad Seneca and Councillor Odie Porter spoke at the Steamburg Community Building with solutions and legal pathways to make reclaiming and rebuilding a reality for our next seven generations.

“This is a community based way to come together to remember and pray with a a good mind because we are still here. This event opened my eyes on how important it is to learn our history and connect with elders. Relating to elders and asking questions about is not something you can do online or by reading a book,” stated Adam Clark.

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At the Seneca Arts & Learning Center on the Allegany Territory, students and staff held their annual Every Child Matters Walk & Social earlier in the day. Dressed in orange shirts, they walked in unity to raise awareness and uplift the stolen voices of those taken by the boarding school system. Events like these remind our youth of the strength of our Elders and the importance of keeping our stories, language, and identity alive.

On the Cattaraugus Territory, the community continued the Nation’s 5th Annual Every Child Matters Remembrance & Community Healing Walk. Together, walking the grounds of the former Thomas Indian School in Irving — where our ancestors were once forced to forget who they were. The path through those grounds holds heavy truth, but our steps carry healing. We spoke our language, sang our songs, and walked proudly as Seneca people — connected as families, friends, and generations.

“I walk to remember my oldest brother was part of that cycle of boarding schools. If the school had remained opened, I too could have become a survivor. I walk so we don’t forget how important is to take care of our children. They are our future. I walk as a reminder that we can learn from our past to make a better future for the faces yet to come,” -Mary Jacobs

In the evening, Seneca Resorts & Casinos team members joined Nation citizens and community supporters in Niagara Falls for their Every Child Matters Remembrance Walk. Over one hundred people walked from Seneca Square to Prospect Point, all wearing orange in remembrance and solidarity.

At Silvercreek High School, three Seneca seniors saw a vision come to fruition that they have been working on since last year for the New York State Education Department Seal of Civics Project

Amirya Warrior, Hailie Rybij, and Skyla Gates wanted to bring awareness and education about the Thomas Indian Residential Boarding School that was located on the Cattaraugus territory. They organized Orange Shirt Day for their school, facilitated a school wide walk, and mini assembly for all students from pre-K to 12th grade.

The three seniors realized the importance of educating students, staff, and the community of the atrocities committed by residential schools and the trickle-down trauma that still affects Indigenous people to this day. Amirya, Hailie, and Skyla took the opportunity to educate and bring something special to the community/district, so they worked with mentors both in the school and at the Seneca Nation to hold a Remembrance Walk. They invited community members, including their own family to portray the local impact of residential schools

Each of the three students took turns to speaking to groups, and read “Every Child Matters” by Phyliss Websted to the younger classrooms. Two guest speakers Joyce Gates and her son Todd Gates (Skyla’s family) shared school experiences. Photographs of the Thomas, Indian residential boarding school hung on the wall as they walked around the gym. Traditional Seneca songs and dances were enjoyed by the elementary students. All the children in the school district were given an orange T-shirt that was designed by Amirya, Hailie, and Skyla.

This year-long project will continue with plans to install a Haudenosaunee flag and a SNI flag in the gym and hold a fundraising for a flag pole outside the school.

Not only are they advocates, they are also each completing Seal of Biliteracy projects: Amirya – a guide for new mothers to be able to speak/teach their babies Seneca; Skyla – an Uno game-translated to Seneca; and Hailie – a children’s book in Seneca, translated to English. They are showing amazing capabilities as leaders and changemakers.

Across Allegany, Cattaraugus, and beyond, our people continue to stand together — healing through remembrance, and reminding one another that the children who were taken are not forgotten.

AGWA:IWA’HASDE’, ÖGWAYA’DAGÖHSOTA’
(We Are Resilient, We Remain.)

Why Do We Wear Orange?

Phyllis’s family didn’t have much, out whatever she wanted to wear so when her grandma let her pick for her first day of school, her eyes locked on an orange shirt hanging prettily from the store rack. It was shiny, had laces on the front, and made her feel as excited as she felt about going to the new St. Joseph Mission School.

When she arrived to the school near Williams Lake, B.C. as a 6-year-old in the Fall of 1973, Phyllis looked forward to what her new experience would be like. Would she make friends? Learn new things? Would she be happy there? Her questions were answered when she walked through the doors. Her clothes and belongings were taken from her, including the shiny orange shirt. She never got to wear it again.

Though there briefly, her time at the St. Joseph Mission School resulted in Phyllis’s long healing journey to unlearn the erroneous things she felt about herself. Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, Northern Secwpemc of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, now serves as Executive Director of the Orange Shirt Society. Phyllis tours the U.S. and Canada sharing her story to shed light on the history of residential schools and bring awareness to the impact they’ve had on indigenous communities. On Orange Shirt Day, we wear orange to bring volume to the voices lost, found, and still healing.

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Please note: H.E.R.O (Allegany) Needs You! October 23rd from 5:30-8pm.
The Allegany Community Center will be hosting the HERO Halloween party. We are in need of departments to come join the Monster Mash and compete in the best table (1st, 2nd, 3rd) while handing out candy to all the gouls and goblins. Contact to sign-up: Ruth Atwood at Ruth.Atwood@sni.org or Lauren Myers at La.myers@sni.org.

Note from SNI Catt. Library: Trunk participants needed for Tuesday, October 28th. To sign-up, email misty.curry@sni.org or call 716-532-4900.

See flyers below for details:

• Trunk or Treat at Highbanks Campground: Saturday, October 11th from 5-8pm
• TERC or Treat, Trunk or Treat Resource Fair: Wednesday, October 15th at 23 TIS Dr., Irving (TERC Parking lot)
• Halloween Skate Night Spooktacular: Friday, October 17th from 6-8pm at the CCC
• Volleyboo Tournament at Newtown Box: Saturday, October 18th, Registration at 9am, Tourney starts at 10am
• Newtown Community Halloween Event: Saturday, October 18th, all day starting at 9am w/the volleyball tournament
• Trunk or Treat at the Allegany Library: Tuesday, October 21st from 5-6:30pm
• Family Halloween Craft Night at Buffalo Creek Office: Tuesday, October 21st at 5:30pm
• Pumpkin Carving Contest: Drop-off at the ACC on October 23rd by 3:30pm
• HERO Halloween Extravaganza: Thursday, October 23rd from 5:30-8:30pm at the ACC
• Trunk or Treat at the Buffalo Creek Office: Friday, October 24th starting at 5:30pm
• Friday, October 24th at 5:30pm
• Allegany Seneca Fire Spooky Haunted House: Sunday, October 26th starting at 6pm
• Halloween Costume Party at the Saylor Building: Tuesday, October 28th starting at 4pm
• Trunk or Treat & Costume Contest at the Cattaraugus Library: Tuesday, October 28th at 5pm
• Elders Social Club – Buffalo Office: Thursday, October 23rd – Great Pumpkin Farm, breakfast at 9:30am, leaving at 10:30am & Friday, October 31st – Costume Party starting at noon

The post Upcoming Halloween Events appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, IRVING, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation secured a significant legal victory in its ongoing efforts to hold the State of New York and the New York State Thruway Authority accountable for decades of illegal operation of the New York State Thruway across the Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory.

United States Magistrate Judge Michael Roemer issued a report and recommendation to the United States District Court for the Western District of New York on motions for summary judgment filed by both the Seneca Nation and New York State. In his report, Judge Roemer concluded that the State violated federal law when it attempted to obtain a right-of-way in 1954 without federal approval. He recommended that the Court enter a declaratory judgment finding the 1954 easement used by the State to construct the Thruway on Nation lands is void, and that the Court order the State of New York to immediately negotiate terms of a new easement with the Seneca Nation.

“Judge Roemer’s report is clear – the State of New York continues to operate and profit from a thruway that it never had proper authorization to build on our territory,” said Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca. “It is beyond time for State officials to engage the Seneca Nation in meaningful negotiations to account for the State’s violation of our treaty rights, its ongoing violation of federal law, and its illegal use of our land.”

The Treaty of Canandaigua signed by the Seneca Nation and the United States in 1794 guarantees the Nation “free use and enjoyment” of its lands in perpetuity. For decades, the Nation has held that the State of New York failed to gain necessary federal approval of an easement in order to construct a portion of the New York State Thruway across approximately 300 acres of the Seneca Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory, in violation of the Nation’s treaty rights. Judge Roemer’s report clearly articulates the lack of the required federal approval. The Nation has been pursuing a legal remedy to this longstanding issue through the court system for more than 30 years and initiated its current legal proceeding in 2018.

On average, approximately 30,000 vehicles cross Seneca Nation lands using the Thruway each day, generating significant toll revenue for the New York State Thruway Authority. In 2008, the Seneca Nation Council approved a resolution to begin invoicing New York State for every vehicle that travels the Thruway through the Cattaraugus Territory. The outstanding invoices total more than $4 Billion to date.

“With each day that passes and each vehicle that travels the Thruway through Seneca Territory, the State benefits from the illegal use of our land, while the Nation has been denied the full use of our Cattaraugus Territory,” President Seneca said. “We will not stop pursuing a path to justice and a fair, equitable and legal solution that finally addresses this situation we have been forced to live with for the last 70 years. We hope the District Court accepts Judge Roemer’s recommendation and forces an end to New York State’s longstanding injustice against the Seneca Nation.”

The post Seneca Nation Secures Legal Victory in Ongoing Thruway Suit appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, IRVING, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation is applauding a recently announced updated agreement between the City of Olean and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation aimed at finally putting an end to the chronic discharge of untreated sewage from the City’s wastewater treatment system into the Ohi:yo’, the Seneca name for the Allegheny River.

The City and NYSDEC entered into an updated Order on Consent in late September, replacing an earlier order originally issued in 2001, which was subsequently revised multiple times. Under the prior order, the City of Olean would have had until 2042 to become fully compliant in upgrading its wastewater treatment facilities to prevent discharges into the river. Under the revised order, all work must be completed no later than November 30, 2028, an acceleration of 14 years.

The Seneca Nation has vocally and forcefully pushed for action and tangible solutions to the chronic overflows from the City’s wastewater infrastructure into the river. Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca identified the problem as a priority issue upon his election in November 2024, and raised it directly with New York Governor Kathy Hochul and DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton in face-to-face meetings in Albany in March.

“The new Order of Consent and accelerated timeframe it provides is a major victory for the Seneca people and everyone who lives along, enjoys and depends upon the river,” President Seneca said. “We would not allow the health of Ohi:yo’ to be sacrificed, compromised and ignored for one day longer. We are gratified that Governor Hochul, Commissioner Lefton and her leadership team at the DEC took swift action in responding to our community’s concerns and stepped forward with a realistic, actionable plan to finally address this ongoing public health problem. Their willingness to work with us, provide Olean with $500,000 in assistance that we asked for, and to tackle this crisis head-on is very much appreciated.”

An approximate 35-mile stretch of the river is located on Seneca Nation territory. Many Nation members live along the river and regularly swim, fish and boat in its waters. Since 2007, there have been 46 recorded discharges from the city’s system into the river, resulting in millions of gallons of dangerous waste flowing through communities downstream, including the Nation’s Allegany Territory. In April and June 2024 alone, overflow events resulting from heavy rains in the area accounted for more than 460,000 gallons of untreated wastewater being discharged into the river.

After the March meeting between President Seneca and Governor Hochul, the Governor directed then incoming NYSDEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton to meet with the Nation to discuss the discharge issue. That meeting took place a week later. In April, President Seneca and Olean Mayor William Aiello announced the creation of a joint task force to find long-needed solutions to the discharge problem. In June, New York State announced $500,000 in aid to fund an engineering study, which is currently underway.

President Seneca gave credit to many who have lent their voices to the public calls for the City to take action in addressing the discharge and overflow issues. Several members of the Seneca Nation Council, including Councillors Lisa Maybee, Odie Porter, Tina Abrams, Klint Nephew, Jonathan D. Williams, Joshua Becker, members of the Defend Ohi:yo’ advocacy group, several Seneca Nation citizens, and residents of Olean and surrounding communities regularly attended Olean Common Council meetings to call for action by the City’s elected leaders.

“We have proved that our voices and our persistence carry significant strength,” President Seneca said. “The working relationship we have developed with both the State of New York and the City of Olean over this important issue will finally ensure that our current and future generations will no longer have to deal with the vile impacts the river has experienced for decades. The waters of Ohi:yo’ will be beautiful once again.”

The post Updated Olean Consent Agreement appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

What a spectacular stretch of beautiful weather we’ve had! I hope everyone has been enjoying the sunshine and outdoors during these days of late summer and early fall. Let’s hope they keep coming for a while longer.

I am happy to report some exciting progress on important issues to our Nation over the last few weeks. A federal Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation agreeing with the Nation’s position in our ongoing fight against New York State’s illegal operation of the New York State Thruway across a portion of our Cattaraugus Territory.

Judge Michael Roemer concluded that the State violated federal law when it attempted to obtain a right-of-way on our lands in 1954 without federal approval. He recommended that the United States District Court find that the State’s 1954 easement is void, and that the Court order the State of New York to immediately negotiate terms of a new easement with the Seneca Nation.

Judge Roemer’s makes clear what we have always known – that the State of New York continues to operate and profit from a thruway that it never had proper authorization to build on our territory. This is a significant victory and step forward for us. We have been forced to live with the impacts of this injustice for 70 years, and we have been pursuing a legal remedy through the courts for more than 30 years. While we do not know for certain what will happen next, we hope that the District Court accepts Judge Roemer’s recommendation and finally forces an end to New York State’s longstanding injustice against the Seneca Nation.

Meanwhile, we also saw a major victory on a priority issue impacting our Allegany Territory. The City of Olean and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation entered into an updated order to prevent chronic overflows of untreated wastewater from the City’s system to the Allegheny River. This new order requires that all upgrades to the City’s wastewater treatment infrastructure be completed by November 30, 2028. That’s 14 years sooner than if the City was allowed to continue under a prior order, which gave them until 2042 to complete the necessary system upgrades.

The Nation and our community, along with the Defend Ohi:yo’ advocacy group and many neighbors from Olean and surrounding communities, helped make this happen. We attended community meetings, protests and demonstrations, and Olean Common Council meetings demanding action. Our elected leaders took that same message to Albany in direct meetings with Governor Hochul and DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton.

We made it clear that We would not allow the health of Ohi:yo’ to be sacrificed, compromised and ignored for one day longer. Nya:wëh to everyone who has lent their voice, strength and passion to this critical issue. Thanks to our voices and persistence, current and future generations will no longer have to deal with the vile impacts the river has experienced for decades. The waters of Ohi:yo’ will be beautiful once again.

Of course, we continue to work on another critical issue with the State of New York – a new gaming Compact. Nya:wëh to everyone who attended our recent community updates on the People’s Compact. Our focus remains centered on negotiating and delivering a fair Compact that, unlike the original Compact, prioritizes and recognizes the needs and benefits of our Nation and our people. That has been the goal of our negotiation strategy from the outset of my time in office, and that will continue to be our driving force moving forward. We will continue to keep our community updated as negotiations on the People’s Compact continue.

Until next time,
J.C.

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• Open Bead Class w/the Catt. Rez Beaders: Tuesday evenings from 5:30-8:30pm
• Fall Foraging w/Cheryl Graham: Saturday, October 25th from 11am-1pm
• Sully Speaker Series w/Sam Jacobs: Monday, October 27th from 6-7:30pm

The post Upcoming events at the Sully! appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, IRVING, N.Y. – Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca issued the following statement on the sudden passing of Ernie Stevens, Jr., Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association:

“The Seneca Nation is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Ernie Stevens, Jr. As the longtime Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, Ernie helped elevate the profile and impact of the industry for the benefit of Native Nations and our people. His leadership, vision and advocacy on behalf of the industry and Nations from across the United States, and his passionate defense of sovereignty and our collective pursuit of economic opportunity and gain for our people, helped shape the economy of Indian Country over the last quarter century.

Ernie was a warrior, a leader and a friend. His impact on the gaming industry and the many Native Nations who have strengthened their economies through gaming enterprises is beyond measure. On behalf of the Seneca Nation and all Seneca people, I extend our condolences and sorrow to Ernie’s family, as well as his Oneida Nation community. He will be missed.”

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