Ganondagan is now accepting submissions for our fifth Hodinöhsö:ni’ Juried Art Show which will be on exhibit Saturday, November 20th, 2021. We are calling for Haudenosaunee artists in the six divisions of: Beadwork, Basketry, Traditional Arts, Fine Art 2D, Fine Art Sculpture, and Photography to enter up to three pieces of new work for consideration in the show. (First Place – $1,250; Second Place – $750; Third Place – $400; Best in Show – $2,500). Each artist may submit up to three pieces of their own work for the show. For rules and application please visit the event page @ ganondagan.org.

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In-Person Elder Legal Assistance at AOA

Free In-Person Legal Assistance for Any On-Territory Elders (not dependent on enrollment status):

• 4th Thursday of Every Month
• With lawyer Alex Fehrman from the Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ)
• Morning Appointments @ Allegany AOA. Afternoon Appointments @ Cattaraugus AOA.

To make an appointment, please call Tina Law in Cattaraugus at (716)532-5777 or Bridget John in Allegany at (716)945-8990. OR, feel free to contact the lawyer, Alex Fehrman, directly at (716) 853-3087 ext. 242.

CELJ provides Health Care Advocacy, Elder Abuse Prevention, Kinship Care, Guardianship Services, Consumer Protection, Foreclosure Prevention, Health Care Proxy & Power of Attorney, Housing and other types of legal assistance.

Free In-Person Estate Planning & Will Preperation for Enrolled Seneca Elders:

• Second Friday of Every Month
• With lawyer Lee Redeye from Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP
• Morning Appointments @ Allegany AOA. Afternoon Appointments @ Cattaraugus AOA.

To make an appointment, please call Tina Law in Cattaraugus at (716)532-5777 or Bridget John in Allegany at (716)945-8990. OR, feel free to contact the lawyer, Lee Redeye, directly at (716) 853-5100 ext. 1382.

SNI AOA will cover all costs of Basic Will Construction, including: disposing of on-territory assets, including no more than three off-territory bank accounts, with no more than five beneficiaries and drafting and execution of power of attorney and healthcare proxy documents. If an eligible Elder requires Complex Estate Planning, the AOA will provide funding towards the representation not to exceed the amount of a Basic Will. The cost for complex estate planning beyond the initial amount covered by AOA is the sole responsibility of the elder.

Elders Events at the Casinos

October Events for Enrolled Seneca Elders:

• October 9th – Seneca Fight Night, King of Cage MMA at Niagara Falls
• October 15th – Aaron Lewis at Allegany
• October 16th – Tessa Dezoppo, Pyschic Medium, at Niagara Falls
• October 28th – Village People at Niagara Falls

Important Note on Elder Entertainment Show Policy:

The Casino requires a head count 1 week prior to the show date, Elders are required to be signed up by then. Tickets are then purchased, with no refunds for unused tickets. Therefore, we will be strongly adhering to the set guidelines for “no shows.” Which reads as follows: “Elders must notify AOA of any cancellations at least 24 hours prior to an event. The exception will be for emergency situations or severe weather conditions. Elders who are not in compliance with the policy will be put on a wait-list for future events for a period of 3 months. A second offense will result in a loss of privileges for a period of 6 months.”

As a reminder, assistants may be put on the wait-list pending all Enrolled Seneca Elders are accommodated.

Please remember to include your phone numbers when signing up for events. There is a minimum of 10 people to attend a show. If the minimum amount is not met, the event will be cancelled.

Feeling Stretched as a Caregiver?

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide you with the tools you need to take care of yourself.

This program helps family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six sessions held once a week. Two experienced Class Leaders conduct the series (many are experienced caregivers themselves, who have successfully applied the techniques they teach). Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming will help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life.

You will receive a book, The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class. Classes will be FREE, thanks to support from Lifespan.

Classes will be held at Seneca Allegany Elders Center. Sessions are held once a week for six weeks and begin the first week of October. Time to be determined with participants. Classes can be virtual if needed due to ongoing changes with COVID For more information or to register, contact Briana Snyder at (716)945-8991, or email Briana.Snyder@sni.org. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.

October Activities 2021 – Seneca Allegany Elders Center

Exhibition Opening & Every Child Matters Events

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Above: Jessica Crouse sworn in as newest Salamanca City Central School District Board Member

On Tuesday September 14th, the Salamanca City Central School District’s (SCCSD) Board of Education (BOE) unanimously voted in Jessica Crouse to the vacant seat of Dr. Meghan McCune. Ms. Crouse will serve the vacant seat until re-elections in May 2022.

Crouse joining the BOE marks the first time two Seneca members have been elected to the board simultaneously, a milestone for the Seneca community and students. In the past, Maxine Dollar served 5 years from 1999-2004 and Candace Miller served from 2004-2009.

Kerry John was recently voted in as the Vice President of the BOE in July 2021. John has been elected to the board twice and has served six and a half years. He initially joined the BOE in 2015 to play an active role in improving the education of SCCSD students and get the district on track to increase graduation rates and higher education success.

A Salamanca alumna, Crouse has strong ties to the community and has continued her education at Vermont Law School, achieving a Master’s of Food and Agricultural Law. As a parent, she is fully invested in her son’s education at Seneca Intermediate and has held a seat as the Vice-Chair for the Title VI Indian Parent Committee since 2019. Crouse will continue to serve on the Seneca Nation’s Climate Task Force, the Natural Resources Committee and as Executive Director for the Cannabis Regulatory Authority. She even has some teaching experience as an adjunct instructor at Jamestown Business College.

“I am deeply humbled and I believe with my experience, commitment, and community ties that I would serve in a manner that will benefit our district. I look forward to working diligently with the present board members on ways to continue making our schools work the best,” states Crouse.

Crouse intends to run for one of the two vacant seats next May in the BOE elections.

“Being present and active spans the tenets of lifelong learning. Our students and community become stronger in any avenue of educational pursuit when a solid foundation is built upon a balance of needs and wants. Don’t be afraid to take that “first step!” shares Crouse.

John feels having two Senecas on the BOE is important as it reflects the 40% Indigenous student body in within the SCCSD K-12, electing another Seneca board member is more proportionate to the student population. This can help push initiatives that are important to the Indigenous students and community.

“It’s time for our community to support our Seneca candidates. Please lend your support for Jessica next May at the BOE elections,” says John.

Get involved in your child’s education! The Salamanca City Central School District hosts their Board of Education meetings every month as follows September 21st, October 5th, October 19th, November 16th, December 7th, January 4th, January 18th, February 1st, March 1st, March 15th, April 19th, May 3rd, May 17th, 2022 Budget Vote/BOE Election, June 7th, June 21st. Meetings are held in the Large Group Instruction Room and via live on the SCCSD Facebook page.

The Indian Education Committee is held once a month on the second Wednesday at 5pm in the Education wing at the Allegany Community Center.

The Title VI Indian Parent Committee is held once a month on the second Wednesday at 6pm in the Large Group Instruction Room at the Salamanca High School.

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Nya:wëh sgë:nö’ gagwe:göh.

Language is so vitally important. What’s also vitally important is to keep our language alive, and making it our first language. Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h is committed to this task. And, we would like everyone to join us in our commitment to the revitalization of our Onöndowa’ga:’ gawë:nö’ by deciding right now that it is vital to you too.

One way to gauge our success is if all Onöndowa’ga:’ were to sign a written statement committing themselves to studying and learning our language due to their never ending desire. That would be nice but we’re not there yet. On the other end of this scale are those who have no concern whatsoever. The core of Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h’s task is to move the needle all the way to the signed commitments end of the scale and we’re done, with the hard part. A little help please with this vital, commitment step.

I am curious to know how many potential teachers we have amongst us; those who are inspired, with a base of Onöndowa’ga:’ gawë:nö’ knowledge, a yearning to help by being a teacher with their own ‘learning nest’ of their own design, and Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h providing assistance of various sorts. Ögajanö’šyö:’ (I had a dream). We would like to talk to you future teachers to develop a plan to build ‘learning nests’ across our Nation. Teachers are totally vital so give us a call and lets get this going. Call Darlene, Flip or myself.

Of course I have to mention the Nearly New Boutique, the pride and joy of the Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h organization. It has become quite the success in the Salamanca boutique world. We get many compliments like; the best store in town, or; my favorite store, or my fave; it doesn’t smell like a thrift shop. We do appreciate the compliments. You never know what you’ll find there but you know that it will have a very reasonable price. It may even have the original price tag on it still. As you may already know, we accept donations at the store during open hours. If you’re on the Cattaraugus Rez or in the surrounding area, call me and I’ll pick up your “Nearly New” donation and deliver it to the boutique.

While you’re scrolling around cyberspace, check out our website: https://www.agwadeyestadogeh.com/ for our latest info. Agwadeyësta’ Do:gë:h is a true community development partner and we want you all to join us, let’s reach for the stars!

Nya:wëh to everyone; our Board of Directors, our volunteers, our donors and supporters for making us what we are today.

Michael Schindler

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Submitted by Eva Capasso
(Grace is the granddaughter of Eva Capasso)

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Source: https://carlos.emory.edu/exhibition/eachother-marie-watt-and-cannupa-hanska-luger

Above: Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, European) and Marie Watt (Seneca and German-Scots), Each/Other, 2020–21. Steel, wool, bandanas, ceramic, leather, and embroidery thread. © Cannupa Hanska Luger and Marie Watt. Photography © Denver Art Museum

Each/Other: Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger is the first exhibition to feature together the work of Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger, two leading Indigenous contemporary artists whose processes focus on collaborative artmaking.

Exploring the collective process of creation, Each/Other will feature over two dozen mixed-media sculptures, wall hangings, and large-scale installation works by Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger, along with a new monumental artist-guided community artwork. While each artist’s practice is rooted in collaboration, they have never before worked together or been exhibited alongside one another in a way that allows audiences to see both the similarities and contrasts in their work.

Marie Watt, who resides in Portland, Oregon, is a citizen of the Seneca Nation and has German-Scots ancestry. Cannupa Hanska Luger, who is based in New Mexico, is a citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara) of Fort Berthold and has Lakota and European ancestry.

Emory students and Carlos Museum docents, patrons, and employees embroidered bandanas for the new, artist-guided community artwork, a collaborative project of both Watt and Luger. Watt is creating another new monumental sculpture in her Blanket Stories series for this exhibition and has asked for community participation.

Emory University was founded in 1836 on the historic lands of the Muscogee (Creek) people, 15 years after the First Treaty of Indian Springs (1821) through which the U.S. government acquired this area of land from the Muscogee Nation. After this treaty, many Muscogee people relocated to Alabama, and were then forcibly removed to present-day Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears in 1836. We share this acknowledgment of the history of the land to help put a better perspective on the Each/Other exhibition and Emory’s commitment to honor Indigenous nations and peoples, both locally and beyond.

The Carlos Museum is honored to present this exhibition that centers Indigenous knowledge, creativity, and collaboration.

The post Each/Other: Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

A Special Nya:wёh to Dan Leroy for his Generosity and Keith Leroy for the Eulogy.

Weso Nya:wёh

The post Thank you from the family of Louis S. Leroy: appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

By Dean S. Seneca | September 20, 2021 | indiancountrytoday.com

Photo above: Dean S. Seneca receives his 1st dose of the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

As we edge closer to entering the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we as a nation are facing a combination of factors that could lead to further public health disasters if not redressed.

Increases in vaccine hesitancy, refusals to participate in even the most basic of preventative protection measures such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing, along with the addition of political rhetoric and misinformation regarding COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines is a clear recipe for disaster. We are already witnessing the consequences within our Native communities.

Indian Country has been and continues to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, deaths, chronic and generational health disparities, political factors and social influences regarding public health policy that has increased the disease burden within our communities.

One of these issues to be specifically concerned about in the potential spread of COVID-19 is the overwhelming housing shortage in Indian Country. This lack of housing has led to overcrowded homes, meaning we often have multiple generations of people living in a single shared space. This makes prevention incredibly difficult.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes is another main issue when it comes to the virus, as individuals with pre-existing conditions and those that are immunocompromised have a reduced ability to fight off infections and are at particular risk of suffering from severe infection, hospitalization, and mortality.

As roughly 45 percent of the population is unvaccinated, and schools begin to re-open, there is cause for concern when sending our children back to class.

Children12 years of age and younger do not yet have authorization for vaccinations, increasing transmission risks among this group and to their family members. Sending our children back into an environment where we are unsure if the teachers have been vaccinated or if the school has mandated masks increases the possibility that they will not only be infected with the virus, but will bring it home with them to other generations of their family — particularly those in their family who may be more vulnerable to infection from the new variant.

With that said, what are the best ways we can protect ourselves, our children, and our community as the Delta variant spreads rapidly throughout the United States?

Get vaccinated

The Delta variant is rapidly spreading throughout the United States. It is more transmissible and appears to have a higher virulence (severity or harmfulness of infection) in vulnerable populations.

Our daily case rate went up to 876, and recently we have seen over 6,000 new cases of this Delta variant in Indian Country — similar statistics to those seen at the end of the last wave in the winter of 2020 — which is a serious cause for alarm.

The current vaccinations provided are very effective, affording full protection against infection to roughly 88.1 percent of vaccinated individuals, while just under 12 percent of vaccinated individuals will become infected with the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Of that 12 percent, the majority had a high enough viral load provided by the vaccination to reduce both infection severity and transmissibility, meaning the vaccine still offered protective benefits.

In short, COVID-19 vaccinations reduce the risk of being infected, reduce infection severity and mortality, and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to someone else if you are infected.

Already vaccinated? Get a booster.

There is much debate surrounding whether or not individuals in the United States who are fully vaccinated should receive a third booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or whether resources should be allocated to vaccinate the global population.

I often equate this to the analogy of the oxygen masks deploying during a turbulent flight emergency. We are taught not to put the oxygen mask on the vulnerable first — not on the children, not on the elderly, not on the physically disabled — but instead to put our own oxygen mask on first.

Once we have done that, we are in a much better position to assist others in need.

The same goes for vaccinations. We can’t help others to the fullest extent of our capabilities if we are not healthy ourselves. Getting a booster not only continues your immunity — which is naturally lost over time in regards to COVID-19 as antibody production declines — but it also helps protect your family, your community and the population as a whole.

The global vaccination effort is another monumental undertaking, one in which the United States must be at the forefront. To do so, we must continue to establish higher levels of herd immunity and promote vaccination efforts, including the distribution of third booster doses. Currently, about 55 percent of the United States population is vaccinated, yet we are still seeing drastic increases in COVID-19 cases.

The pandemic is resurging, and if we had not established the vaccination rates we have attained presently, the situation could be much worse. To prevent these circumstances from escalating, it is imperative that we stop the spread of this virus. Stopping the spread reduces COVID-19’s ability to mutate into another variant, making vaccinations critical for us to make an impact on the pandemic.

Wear a mask. Engage in social distancing. Reduce large gatherings. Clean your environment.

This pandemic is far from over, and we have as a country really let up on many of the preventative precautions that have helped to keep us relatively safe.

U.S. politics, unfortunately, has gotten involved with this public health crisis. This is not a partisan issue, and political agendas should never be involved in establishing and maintaining the health and safety of our people and our children in the face of this pandemic.

Wear a mask, keep six feet of social distance between yourself and others, reduce the size of or postpone gatherings where a large number of guests are anticipated, and wash your hands.

These are all simple behavioral and social actions we can easily engage with daily to reduce the risk of infection and limit the transmission of COVID-19. Consideration, compassion and clemency are essential tools in the combat of COVID-19.

Protect yourself, your family and your community by practicing proper preventative protection measures as well as wearing and utilizing proper preventative protection equipment. Remember, by reducing transmission, we reduce the opportunities that this virus has to further mutate into a more infectious and deadly variant.

Vaccine hesitant? Let’s talk shots.

A commonly asked question is, “Why should I get vaccinated if the COVID-19 infection has a 99 percent survival rate?” COVID-19 symptoms can persist for months, resulting in what is referred to as “long-haul” or “long-term” COVID.

The virus can damage the lungs, heart, kidney and brain, which increases the risk of long-term health problems. Even young, otherwise healthy individuals can feel unwell for weeks to months after infection.

Imaging tests taken months after recovery from COVID-19 have shown lasting damage to the heart muscle, even in people who experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms, which may further increase the risk of heart failure or other heart complications in the future.

The type of pneumonia often associated with COVID-19 can cause long-standing damage to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs and the resulting scar tissue can lead to long-term breathing problems.

The main binding site for the COVID-19 virus is the ACE2 protein, which is expressed in the kidney much more than in the lungs. Even in young individuals, COVID-19 infection can cause damage to the kidney, leading to an increased risk of acute kidney injury and renal complications later in life.

In severe COVID-19 infections, acute kidney injury is observed more frequently and often linked to increased risk of mortality. Even in young people, COVID-19 can cause strokes, seizures and Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition that causes temporary paralysis.

COVID-19 infection may also increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Short-term side effects from vaccination and a roughly 80 percent effectiveness of preventing infection from COVID-19 variants, along with a nearly 95 percent effectiveness at preventing serious infection, hospitalization and mortality, far outweigh the risks of facing COVID-19 infection.

If you are unvaccinated, this further increases the risks of developing long-term health damages from this virus. Additionally, the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has just received full FDA authorization and approval, meaning the public can be very confident that the vaccine meets the highest standards for safety, effectiveness, efficiency and manufacturing quality.

In summary, the vaccine benefits outweigh the known risks of contracting COVID-19 and developing the health complications currently being observed in and associated with those suffering from long-haul COVID.

Native communities

While Native populations are at about a 50 percent vaccination rate, there is still much work to be done. Misinformation or promoting negative messages regarding vaccination rates in some areas of Indian Country has instilled a false sense of security in many of us, and negative messaging around the fact that both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have yet to receive full FDA approval and authorization can be misleading to get people vaccinated.

We should be careful not to over-emphasize that currently these vaccines have been approved for emergency authorization use only. This is a true fact — but the way it is presented can be counterintuitive.

This can also damage our goal of combating this virus, reducing transmission rates, and preventing further mutation. It is vital for us to ensure messaging campaigns surrounding COVID-19 are positive, accurate and evidence-based, and encourage engagement in vaccination.

If you are unvaccinated, find a local vaccination clinic near you, make an appointment, and get your vaccine.

If you are vaccinated and have access to a vaccine booster, get the booster.

Regardless of vaccination status, continue to practice safety measures and prevention precautions such as masking and social distancing. If you’re still hesitant, let’s talk. I’m here to answer your questions and meet you where you currently are regarding vaccination status. After all, the only way we’ll make it through this pandemic successfully is together.

Dean S. Seneca MPH, MCURP, Seneca, is the CEO and founder of Seneca Scientific Solution + and the treasurer of the Native Research Network. A professor at the University of Buffalo, he also enjoys teaching about Indigenous health disparities and dedicates his time to improving education concerning historical and intergenerational trauma, as well as improving access to quality healthcare. He is an esteemed researcher and interprofessional collaborator within both the local and national epidemiological and health service communities. Facebook: Dean S. Seneca. Email: deansene@buffalo.edu.

The post The prognosis for a lingering pandemic appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Updated contact info posted below:

Do you have questions about cancer, concerns related to cancer, or just want to talk about how we may be able to help you? Do you have a family history of cancer, had a recent abnormal test result or just curious about what it takes to be screened for cancer?

My role is to support you and answer your questions, guide you through your options, and provide health education and coordination of services. Confidentiality assured. Please feel free to contact me via phone or email by using the information below.

David Silverheels, LMSW
Community Patient Navigator – Allegany Territory

(P) 716-697-3583 | Email: david.silverheels@roswellpark.org

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The Emergency Broadband Benefit (“EBB”) is a temporary Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) program to help households struggling to afford internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect children to school, seniors to telemedicine services, and New Yorkers to jobs and other vital services. The application period is open and is first-come, first-serve.

Eligible enrollees can receive a credit up to $50 monthly toward broadband service (or $75 monthly for households on tribal lands). A one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase an internet-accessible device (laptop, desktop, tablet, etc.) from participating providers is also available.

The EBB has broad eligibility criteria. A household is eligible if it meets one of the following:

• Has an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Section 8 or Lifeline;
• Receives benefits under the federal free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing Lifeline, low-income or COVID-19 program.

The FCC has prepared an FAQ for consumers to learn more about the program.

Please feel free to contact info@utilityproject.org or 877-669-2572 if you have any questions. PULP recently created a landing page concerning internet resources available for low-and fixed-income New Yorkers.

If you have concerns about utility rights during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit PULP’s COVID-19 utility rights and moratorium page. For financial concerns, visit PULP’s HEAP page.

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